The Case of the Shrunken Allowance (Hello Reader! Math Level 4) [Paperback]

Joanne Rocklin (Author), Marilyn Burns (Author), Ying-Hwa Hu (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Hello Reader! Math Level 4

Mike and his friends try to figure out why the money in his allowance jar appears to be shrinking. Includes related math activities.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Why is P.B.'s allowance shrinking? He is not spending the money but the amount sitting in his peanut-butter jar looks smaller than it did the day before. With the help of his friends Mike and Maria, P.B. catches his sister red-handed. Jill is not guilty of stealing, however; she was simply making change. This math-series entry explores the concepts of money and measurement in an easily resolved mystery. The aim here is to use the story as a starting point for further activities involving coins, currency, estimation, and logical reasoning. Parents looking for ways to reinforce basic arithmetic skills will appreciate the hints and guided questions at the end of the story. A solid addition to math sections.-Maura Bresnahan, Shawsheen School, Andover, MA

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel Books (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590120069
• ISBN-13: 978-0590120067
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JOANNE ROCKLIN is the critically acclaimed author of several books, including ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, an Indie Bound book; STRUDEL STORIES, which was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an American Library Association Notable Book, and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!, which was a School Library Journal Best Book and a Bank Street Best Book. Her early readers THREE SMART PALS and THIS BOOK IS HAUNTED will soon be e-books, the latter also to be released as an App.

Her latest middle grade novel is ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, also published as an audiobook. "Fully realized characters and setting definitely make this one morning on Orange Street amazing." KIRKUS, starred.

She has a doctorate in psychology and is a former elementary school teacher, presently writing children's books full-time. For several years she taught a popular class in writing children's books at UCLA Extension. She gives presentations in schools, libraries and bookstores and has been a speaker for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the California Reading Association, and other organizations.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Joanne lived in Los Angeles for many decades. She now lives in Oakland, California.

Her website is www.joannerocklin.com and she welcomes comments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good combination of a story and mathematical exercises, March 11, 2007

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Case of the Shrunken Allowance (Hello Reader! Math Level 4) (Paperback)

This book is designed to teach the basics of money changing to children in grades 2 and 3. P. B. is a boy who likes peanut butter sandwiches and he also puts his allowance in empty jars to store it up. However, he recently noticed that the level of coins in the jar has dropped so he thinks someone is stealing it. The jar is on the window sill and he has it staked out. His friends Maria and Mike are walking by when they spot him and ask him what he is doing.

Shortly after they all eat a sandwich, they see P. B.'s sister Jill take money out of the jar. When she comes out, they confront her and she says that while she took coins out of the jar, she replaced them with dollar bills, which take up less space. Jill also tells them that yesterday the cat knocked the jar down and it broke. She replaced it will a larger jar, which explains why the level has dropped. They all go out to the garage where they count the money and it turns out that it is all there.

This story is meant to be the prelude for a series of exercises to give to the students about counting money and the different ways in which a certain amount can be expressed. It will interest the students and lay the proper foundation for the activities which appear in the back of the book. The combination of story and exercises is very well done.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost Money or Not?, March 25, 2005

By 

Jeanice A. Smith "Froglegs4" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Case of the Shrunken Allowance (Hello Reader! Math Level 4) (Paperback)

Teacher could use this to create a cross curriculum lesson using problem solving, deductive reasoning, and perceptions vs. truth. There are some great lessons to be learned from this story and Math is one of them. Children can be introduced to money values, counting, and estimating of time and container sizes. Plus they can learn to use various coins to make the same amount. I enjoyed reading this to my family and seeing their reaction and problem solving skills at work. The author also provides several lessons you could use in the class. Great book for 2nd and 3rd graders to enjoy.