This Plus That: Life's Little Equations [Hardcover]

Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author), Jen Corace (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 26, 2011 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

What comes after 1 + 1?

Just about anything!

In this fanciful collection, Amy Krouse Rosenthal puts together unexpected combinations that always add up to something special. Whether it's "wishes + frosting = birthday" or "birds + buds = spring," each equation is a small delight. This Plus That shows again and again that life's total experience is always greater than the sum of its parts.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a New York Times bestselling author of books for children and grown-ups. Her children’s books include the Cookies series, illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer; Duck! Rabbit!, The OK Book, Yes Day!, and It’s Not Fair!, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld; Spoon, illustrated by Scott Magoon; The Wonder Book, illustrated by Paul Schmid; and This Plus That, Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink, illustrated by Jen Corace. Her work for grown-ups includes the memoir Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and the film project The Beckoning of Lovely. Amy lives online at www.whoisamy.com and for real in Chicago.

Jen Corace is an artist and freelance illustrator who lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally from the suburbs of southern New Jersey, she eventually made her way to the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a BFA in illustration. Jen has previously collaborated with Amy Krouse Rosenthal on Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Hoot.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061726559
• ISBN-13: 978-0061726552
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > United States

More About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a person who likes to make things.

Some things she likes to make:
Children's books.
Grown-up books.
Short films.
Salads.
Connections with the universe.
Something out of nothing.
Wishes.

According to The New York Times, Amy's award-winning children's books "radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting." Her 20+ books for children include !, WUMBERS, PLANT A KISS, LITTLE PEA, SPOON, THE WONDER BOOK, COOKIES: BITE-SIZE LIFE LESSONS, AND DUCK!RABBIT!.

As for her adult work, Amazon named ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFE one of the top 10 memoirs of the decade.

A long-time contributor to NPR, she is currently the host and creator of Mission Amy K R.com produced by Chicago Public Radio.

Her short films include The Beckoning of Lovely, 17 Things I Made, ATM Always Trust Magic, The Kindness Thought Bubble, and The Money Tree.

Amy lives with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Math for Every Day Life! April 26, 2011

By Sean P. Coughlin

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is delightful! What I love about Amy Krouse Rosenthal's books is how they lay a foundation for diverse and playful, yet meaningful, interactions between the readers and the text.--Interactions that happen when you read her books, and continue long after you put one of her books away.

Jen Corace's simple and beautiful illustrations (just like the ones she did for the Little Pea, Little Hoot, Little Oink series), paired with Rosenthal's written equations, are just the right addition to this mathematical exploration. Like many of Rosenthal's books, I want to buy multiple copies and give them as gifts. I guess that's another play on this book's theme?

Amy Krouse Rosenthal x Books= Wonderful Gifts that keep on Giving

To all those who know Amy's works, you won't be disappointed. To all those who don't know her works, you need to buy this book for a basic introduction: An Amy Krouse Rosenthal 101, so to speak!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best equations September 27, 2011

By Madigan McGillicuddy

Format:Hardcover

This whimsical mathematical guide takes us into the lives of two little girls, as they put together some ingenious equations. Some of them are obvious, when you think about it, "yes + no = maybe." Others are more purely educational, for example, primary and secondary colors. Others only make perfect sense in hindsight, "chalk + sitting = school" vs. "chalk + jumping = hopscotch." The tiny-eyed, wide faces of rosy-cheeked children are the tiniest bit reminiscent of Joan Walsh Anglund's creations, but the depiction of their daily ups and downs doesn't feel nearly as twee (not to mention the presence of their long straight noses - definitely different than Anglund!) Crisp white backgrounds and creative typography with words that roll, wrap-around, or change size take you through the story. As fresh and clean as the illustrations are, I was surprised to uncover little details such as, "anything + sprinkles = better" is surrounded by a cutely kawaii birthday cake, doughnuts, cupcakes and hidden amongst them is a bowl of broccoli who look delighted to be favored with sprinkles as well. I also liked the overlapping green silhouettes of musical instruments on the symphony page.

There's a certain wry humor to "small + bottle = baby" and "tall + coffee = grown-up" as a dad hugs his baby in one arm, and his coffee with the other. I don't want to quote the whole book, but another of my favorite pages was "cozy + smell of pancakes - alarm clock = weekend" How very true! The illustration depicts a strawberry blonde girl snuggled under a rainbow pinwheel quilt, dreaming of a large stack of buttery pancakes. I'll recommend this fun book for readers 5-8 and see if it sparks them to make up any "equations" of their own.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a marvelous journey through word formulas every youngster will love ... September 4, 2011

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

There are all kinds of equations and formulas that we can use in math, but few for "life's little equations." There are many ways to express your friendship, but one of the nicest is "laughter + keeping secrets + sharing = best friend." It's a great formula that everyone should know. This book is a wonderful book of word formulas that spin through its pages bringing fun, joy, and a bit of soul for everyone to think about.

A boy brings his knees tightly to his chest, holds them with his arms and begins to tumble across the floor as his dog tries to catch him . . . "somersaults + somersaults + somersaults = dizzy." There are right ways and wrong ways to do things. It's certainly not right to blame your baby brother for breaking a vase when you did it. Oh, my, oh, no! Everyone knows that "blaming + eye rolling" does not equal a "sincere apology" but an "'I'm sorry' + hug = sincere apology" most certainly do!

This book is a marvelous journey through word formulas every youngster will love. This was a very unique and fun book to read that brings a little humor to the equation of life. The artwork is quite whimsical, yet simple and appealing. No doubt this will be a homeschool and classroom favorite as teachers read this one aloud and set their students to work creating their own equations. No doubt that this + that + 1 classroom = FUN! This is one book you might just want to + to your list.