Double Play: Monkeying Around with Addition

by Betsy Franco, Doug Cushman

Brrriiiing! Recess time! Little chimps Jill and Jake find more than just their favorite games in the schoolyard today. They also discover the important mathematical concept of doubling, or adding a number to itself. Easy to learn and fun to memorize, doubling is a valuable problem-solving tool that helps kids prepare for multiplication. A must-have addition to any math-themed picture book library, Double Play makes this arithmetic lesson as welcome as recess.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Childrens, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 12, 2011

About the author

Betsy Franco is an accomplished and versatile author whose body of work spans over 80 published titles, including fiction, young adult novels, picture books, and poetry collections. Known for her creative, collage-like approach to storytelling, Franco has also written a screenplay for each of her novels, with Naked optioned for film and The Art of Love currently in post-production.
Franco has a strong background in film and theater, having served as the screenwriting mentor for Metamorphosis, Junior Year, a film adaptation of her novel and play. The project was a family collaboration involving her sons James and Tom Franco, and it was well received at major festivals including Cinequest and Mill Valley, earning recognition as a top ten film by the San Jose Mercury News.
Her creative partnerships with her sons continue across various mediums: she appeared in James Franco’s film The Broken Tower and on General Hospital, while Tom Franco has illustrated her books and co-produced films with her. She also works closely with her son Dave Franco, who assists with her writing projects and participated in the audiobook of Metamorphosis, Junior Year alongside James.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Stanfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Play is a great read aloud book because with every page, it is easy for a child to understand and does not need a lot of attention from the children. It is a quick and easy read describing things on the playground and doubling numbers one through ten. The illustrations also make it easy for the children to count to understand the doubling method. This would be a great book for 2nd grade when the students are learning multiplication tables of twos.

[Nolan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A. This was a book about a classroom of animals going out for recess. Each page shows the students playing a new game. With each game played there is a doubling math problem (e.g. 4 kids are playing on one four square and 4 other students were playing on a different square. 8 total)

B. The major theme of this book was doubling numbers.

C. I would use this book to teach my students about addition facts/ doubling numbers.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great math picture book about doubling numbers. On par with the Stuart Murphys, which I love. Cute, appealing, reads aloud smoothly, and works at several different difficulty levels. Highly recommended for 1:1 and classroom use for ages 4-7.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about monkeys playing on the playyard - story told in rhyming verse with math facts (adding doubles up to ten).

[Heather Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT...what a great way to introduce simple addition. The story was gripping, the pictures great and the learning was fun.

[Julie]

Little monkeys Jill and Jake love recess. They play and count their way through a good time. A good book to introduce children to double addition.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the concept of this book, but I think the story suffered greatly in the execution. Also, the illustrations were OK, but not especially endearing or funny.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read story focusing on addition.