[Equal Shmequal (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)] [By: Kroll, Virginia] [July, 2005]

Charlesbridge Math Adventures

by Virginia L. Kroll

What does it mean to be equal? Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war but they can't figure out how to make teams that are equal. Nothing works until Mouse starts thinking mathematically. Wonderful illustrations capture Mouse and her animal friends from whiskers to tails.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Arithmetic, Science, Numeracy

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Kroll has written numerous children's books since her career started in the mid-80's. Her first book was published in 1992. She started writing when she had her fourth child. Before that, she taught elementary school in Buffalo, NY. She also has written a number of books under the pseudonym Melrose Cooper to mask her tremendous output in so short a time.

Reviews

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

The animals of the forest want to play tug-of-war, but have to get their teams equal to make it fun.

[Madelaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great visual representation of how something can be equal in many ways. The animals in this story find that for them it has to be equal teams in weight.

[James Vickery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a book that covers the concept of equal. in the book, the animals have several tug of war games and find that a difference in size or number can keep a problem from becoming equal. The book also shows the concept of equal by relating it to a balance scale. Students are often tested on weight with the balance as a picutre. This book would be great as a tool to learn the concept of a balance scale as well.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the illustration of the mouse sleeping with the honeycomb, the illustration from the cover of the bear with the mouse and the bees balancing on a twig, and the illustration of the bees playing tug-of-war. Super super cute.

I think this was a very cute story. It explained equality not just in numbers, but in terms of power and strength. I like that animals used observation and experimentation to figure out the answer to the problem.


These are the parts that stood out to me:
P9 plodded

P29 “What really matters is equal effort,” said Mouse.

P32
What it means to be equal

In math, to be equal means to have parts that are the same in weight, size, quantity, or other measure.
In art, equal can mean, symmetrical, which means you can draw a line through the middle of a picture and one half will look just like the other half.
In law, equal means having the same opportunities, rights, and privileges.
In team sports, the teams have equal numbers. All the players must give their best effort in order to have the best chance of winning.

[Shirlee Ramos]

I liked this book because of the math adventure that the students get to go on. I liked the way that emphasis on equality was the main idea. This story allows students to see the differences in play and the importance of playing equally and including everyone. As a future educator, I will use this book in my future classroom to not only teach the importance of equality and inclusion but to also emphasize on the importance of fairness. I feel that this book is so important to keep on my classroom shelf, especially when students are struggling to share and need a gentle reminder of fairness.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for the math section of our family library, especially for some strewing for the math-phobic in the family. However, my oldest teen picked it up first and told me it was pretty funny and that I should read it. (This is the kid who did math problems for kicks as a 12-year-old.) I love that it drew him in as it is a sign of a quality book.

The art is playful and bright with plenty of attitude depicted in each animal—a perfect complement to the prose.

[Chris Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love using this book to teach about balance. The pictures and story itself is a little bland, but students love trying to figure out the solution or guess at what will happen. The bear adds a touch of humor. Not many students will take this on their own, but a class learning about scales or size this works as an intro.

[Mariah Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be very difficult to teach the equal sign in a way that will prepare and not hinder student's later experiences with algebra. Teaching the equal sign like a balance or a tug of war game makes the equal sign more accessible to a K-2 audience. I've very pleased with this book as a way to introduce the equal sign in concrete terms. Can't wait to use it in my classroom!

[Megan Biter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse and her animal friends want to play tug-of-war, but have some trouble figuring out how to make the teams fairly equal. Through this book, students are able to learn mathematical terms and concepts, such as equal, categories, weight, quantity, size, and balance outside of a typical math textbook.

[Legolas68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for Teaching the Equal Sign

II have used this book in the past for teaching the equal sign to my class. Since I am a virtual teacher, I needed a digital copy. Excellent resource.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun living math book..krb 8/9/17

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great when introducing math to students and understanding what it means to be equal with a cute story of all different size animals trying to play tug of war

[Jacob Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall great book for younger kids. Helped me to design my instruction for my field placement!

[Gretchen Oates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for visually explaining the math concept of equivalence

[Kristen Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to remember this book because it would be a great way to combine math and reading. It would also teach students about finding equality using a scale.

[Chelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice idea but a little too long winded.

[Kenzie Teel]

I will use the book in my future classroom because students always complain that everything has to be equal. This book shows that equal and fair are two different terms. The game was equal when bear was on one end of the rope and the mouse was on the other, but it was not fair because of size differences. This book can also be cross-curricular between math and talking about making an amount equal and finding different points in the book where that is represented.

[Julie Ricenbaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was observing a classroom one day and the teacher was using this book to supplement the section on division in math for her elementary students. Since then I have also used this book to help make math connection for some of my younger students.
Through a game of tug-of-war Mouse and her friends have to decide how to make both sides equal with the same number of animals. After multiple attempts are made, they finally arrive at a solution that makes both sides equal with the same number of animals. The book is predictable in a number of ways but the story still has enough plot to keep younger children reading or listening. My favorite part is at the end of the book where there are four definitions of equal from the viewpoints of math, art, the law, and team sports.
I've learned that making literature connections in other content areas is beneficial in helping students make connections. Super cute book!

[Mel Raschke]

Mouse and her friends decide to play tug-of-war after watching kids at recess. First, though, they have to decide how to make both sides equal. They try dividing up by meat-eaters and plant-eaters; then they try those that have fur versus those without. Neither of these solutions works. Then they try three animals on each side. Of course, the larger ones win. Finally, they line up on the teeter-totter, shifting sides until the board balances. With both teams equal, the effort to win the tug-of-war is also equal. Neither side is victorious until Bear is distracted by the buzz of bees.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best for kids ages 8 and up
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Narrative Skills

From cover:
What does it mean to be equal? Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war, but they can't figure out how to make equal teams. PLant-eaters against meat-eaters? fur against no fur? Nothing works until Mouse takes things into her own paws and levels the playing field.

Cute illustrations going forces in this math adventure about what it means to be equal.

[Sarah Ziskend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for:
-teaching math terms, equal, half
-teaching students to work together
-has a lot of good descriptive words
- teaches "equal" in an organic ways, using animals trying to find equal groups, equal weight, and equal sizes
-talks about many meanings of equal

As a teacher of mathematics, I could use this book when I teach what it means for something to be equal. Since the book also introduces other mathematical vocabulary, I believe this book would best be used as an introduction.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This math adventure story was very enjoyable. The various ways of fair, equal, balanced...very good visuals.

I was spelling "Shmequal" as "Schmequal", so I couldn't find the book on Goodreads for a while. ;-)

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to have fun at a game of tug-of-war, forest animals balance the teams by using a see-saw. Includes nonfiction math notes for meanings of equal. www.hcpl.net

Subject: Forest animals -- Juvenile fiction
Equations -- Juvenile fiction.
Mathematics -- Juvenile fiction.

[Kelli Dana]

*This book is wonderful for explaining even and odd numbers as well as the concept of equality.
*Good story that the children can relate too about tug a war. This allows them to see the importance of knowing their even/odd numbers.

[Haim · Rating 5 out of 5]

With delightful illustrations, Virginia Kroll teaches her readers about the various meanings of "equal." I liked how the story unfolds with the animals experimenting with various ways of having two equal teams in a game of tug-of-war.

[Kasmarine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to introduce the concept of equal part as a starter for faction.
They children will learn math while enjoying the battle of tug-of-war with the forest animals.
The story ended with Bear's "Time for a honey break.

[Alesha Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to students so they can gain a better understanding of equality. Also, this book help them learn more about number vs size. Children will learn what it takes to make something equal to each other.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

45 months - lots of similar math concepts taught in this one the terms equal (in numbers, weight, size), fair, balance a very well rounded teaching book using a teeter totter and tug of war... things kids can totally relate to.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

An investigation into what it means when two things are equal. The story line involves playing tug-of-war. They talk about equal numbers, equal weights, etc. They use a teeter-totter to figure equal weights.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and concept behind this story to teach what equal is. Equal Shmequal would be a nice read aloud for PreK-1st graders. This is the 2nd Charlesbridge Math Adventure book that I have read and loved. I am eager to read more in this collection!