Book: Missing Mittens

Reviewed by: Matthew Oviedo

Author: Stuart J. Murphy

Recommended grade level: first grade

Author & Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

CCSSM Standards:
Ccss.m.c.1oa.c5
Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction. Show examples that deal with addition and subtraction.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4
Use models for math.
Students can learn about odd and even numbers and how to paid numbers. The story used mittens to incorporate different examples of odd and even numbers.

Summary:
Missing Mittens is the story about a man who goes looking for his missing mittens. The man lives in a farm and has different animals. He goes around looking for his mittens on different animals. Because each animal has two legs or two arms, some animals have a pair of mittens and others just one mitten, which introduces the concept of odd and even numbers.
Rating:

I rate this book 5 stars because it introduces its math concepts in a fun and creative way. By using animals, the author is able to possibly grasp the attention of the children. Also, by using animals, the author was able to introduce odd and even numbers to the children. By turning the concepts of addition and subtraction into a story, the readers are reading along to learn what happens in the story and at the same time are gaining useful math ideas.   

Classroom Ideas:

1.     This book can be used to introduce division. There are a number of animals introduced in the book and some have two legs and two arms. The teacher can question the children as to how many animals can have mittens if there are x amount of mittens and only x amount of animals.