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Rating: 
Summary: Very good for added practice.
Review: Scholastic didn't re-invent the wheel with this one but it is a good add-on. The book states a level of 4th to 6th grade although it might be narrower or wider depending on your child. Probably 4th grade is a minimum for most children and because word problems tend to be difficult I can see this being helpful for some children into 7th grade. Frankly, I'm not a math-whiz...the book is billed as a think-aloud book and I did a bit of head scratching (the answers are in the back)The problems are written out so that the stages are spaced. Nice visual clue to pause and think about the math process going on. The book takes advantage of several different fonts to suggest alternate thought processes, but I think they could be using more as I have seen them do in other books. The book is set up so that children can do one a day and it isnt overwhelming, that is nice. The cartoons are very cute. There is a certain amount of implied knowledge with this book. Its more a book of exercises than explanations. That isnt a problem, just a caution. I wish the problems had more *sparkle*...more fun and punch to them. Instead of wondering how many waffles earnie ate all week based on his daily waffle consumption... wouldnt it have been more fun to ponder the mess in Earnie's room (complete with a cartoon of Earnie's drowning in a pile of clutter)? Or how many times Earnie's mom could possibly serve broccoli this week (with a cartoon of Earnie at the table as his cheerful mom puts down yet another gargantuan plate of roughage?) Or even how many times Earnie's baby sister can annoy him (with a picture of Earnie's adorable yet annoying baby sister?) I don't know, maybe its me....but teaching my son...or maybe it's getting him willing to learn, has always been easier when he is having alot of fun. And the more laughs, the more it sinks in. This book is quite good. It will give good solid problems to solve daily, I just wish it were a bit more to look forward too
Rating:
Summary: Very good for added practice.
Review: Scholastic didn't re-invent the wheel with this one but it is a good add-on. The book states a level of 4th to 6th grade although it might be narrower or wider depending on your child. Probably 4th grade is a minimum for most children and because word problems tend to be difficult I can see this being helpful for some children into 7th grade. Frankly, I'm not a math-whiz...the book is billed as a think-aloud book and I did a bit of head scratching (the answers are in the back) The problems are written out so that the stages are spaced. Nice visual clue to pause and think about the math process going on. The book takes advantage of several different fonts to suggest alternate thought processes, but I think they could be using more as I have seen them do in other books. The book is set up so that children can do one a day and it isnt overwhelming, that is nice. The cartoons are very cute. There is a certain amount of implied knowledge with this book. Its more a book of exercises than explanations. That isnt a problem, just a caution. I wish the problems had more *sparkle*...more fun and punch to them. Instead of wondering how many waffles earnie ate all week based on his daily waffle consumption... wouldnt it have been more fun to ponder the mess in Earnie's room (complete with a cartoon of Earnie's drowning in a pile of clutter)? Or how many times Earnie's mom could possibly serve broccoli this week (with a cartoon of Earnie at the table as his cheerful mom puts down yet another gargantuan plate of roughage?) Or even how many times Earnie's baby sister can annoy him (with a picture of Earnie's adorable yet annoying baby sister?) I don't know, maybe its me....but teaching my son...or maybe it's getting him willing to learn, has always been easier when he is having alot of fun. And the more laughs, the more it sinks in. This book is quite good. It will give good solid problems to solve daily, I just wish it were a bit more to look forward too
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