[Too Many Kangaroo Things to Do! (Great Source Mathstart)] [By: Murphy, Stuart J.] [October, 1999]

MathStart: Level 3 #3

by Unknown Author

It’s Kangaroo’s birthday, but no one will play with him: not the emu, the platypuses, the koalas, or even the dingos. They all have too many things to do. What exactly are they doing? They’re using multiplication to figure out just how many things they have to do to plan a big surprise for Kangaroo! Best Children’s Science Books 1997 (Science Books and Films)

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, School, Childrens, 1st Grade, Fiction, Animals

Paperback

First published July 19, 1996

About the author

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Reviews

[Megan Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really cute. It is about a kangaroo whose birthday is upon him, but none of his friends can play because they are too busy. I think this book would be great for discussing birthday parties, feelings, and multiplication.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish our library had more of these MathStart books (unfortunately they don't due to the age of publication). Miss 6 picked up on the way the numbers were following a pattern as the animals planned a surprise birthday party. It's a very approachable way to introduce multiplication.

Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "mathstart" story. However, for the purposes of a pre-school story time I ignored the "math" aspects and focused on introducing "outback" wildlife. It's kangaroo's birthday and he systematically invites his friends the emu, the platypus, the koala, and the dingo to play with him. They're all too busy baking and tasting and wrapping and decorating (all of which activities invite making motions with the children).

Acting out story elements with motions is key to keeping a group of young children focused and engaged. If there are two story performers, one reads or tells the story and the other leads the actions. Telling the story vs reading the story keeps the performer's energy focused on the group.

On the last page be sure to have the children cheer "Happy Birthday!" with you. If you're in the mood you can also lead them in singing "Happy Birthday, dear Kangaroo".

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun story in the MathStart series by Stuart J. Murphy. We like these books; they incorporate math principles into the story and show how math is fun and necessary for everyday life.

This is a great way to introduce the concept of multiplication. The story is fairly predictable, but fun and the illustrations are terrific. Our girls insist that we must make the fruit punch soon! We really enjoyed reading this together and discussing the math concepts. Terrific!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches multiplication. The kangaroo goes to one animal and that animals tells what he has to do. The book shows the math problems: 1X1=1 1X2=2 1X3=3 1X4=4 Then the kangaroo goes to two animals and they tell what they have to do. 2X1=1 2X2=4 and so on. Everything is related to a party and it is revealed at the end all the animals had been preparing a surprise party for the kangaroo.

One nice thing is that all the animals are Australian animals, so I think it takes place in Australia.

[Whitney Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very interactive for students to be read to during math time.

This book expresses a story using multiplication and I actually found it in the math tech support area in the book room at the elementary school.

Murphy shows great illustrations and ways for students to understand and physically see multiplication being used.

MULTIPLICATION

This type of book can be taught during a unit dealing with "fiction" stories/books. This book could be read to grades to allow them to see a creative story, where animals are the main characters within the book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book to introduce beginning multiplication (1-4, starting with 1x1 and ending with 4x4). Good illustrations to support - for example 2x2 has two groups of two items. It's a cute story too.

My 8-year-olds enjoyed it as did my 4-year-old. I heard the 4-yr-old walking around later "4 boys times 2 cars equals 8 things), totally making up his own problems.

We'll try to do some extension/hands-on problems with this book.

[Jayetta Carter-mcfarlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Level 3 book emphasizing multiplication. However, I could put this book to good use in grades K - 2. It has a great story line with a plot and characters and settings for language arts studies. It shows multiplication as repeated addition. Sets,groups, and computations with money can be taught with this book. Multipliple possiblities of lesson plans can be made from the use of this book.

[Maxwoodliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for students that are just starting to learn multiplication. It provides a good story for their children to learn initial multiplication. I would use this for 2nd or 3rd graders that are starting to learn multiplication tables. I could use the story as word problems in class and ask my students to solve the problems.

[Alison Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute story that I would reccomend it for early ages. They won't get the math in it right away but it is good exposure to multiplication and addition and the story can be used in later years by students working on these concepts. Lesson plan ideas written in the back!

[Cya]

This book uses multiplication to figure out how many things Kangaroo's friends can plan for his birthday. It is another great book from the MathStart series. I would use this book to introduce beginning multiplication with small numbers.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-presented story about multiplication, and sweet to boot.

[Michelle Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this book to introduce my math centers on multiplication. Sad kangaroo thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday, but they are actually working together to plan a great party.

[Michael D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for teaching students how to multiply, count to 100 by tens.

[Azriana Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has an interesting story line. It shows multiplication as repeated addition. Also sets and groups can be taught with this book.

[Wendy]

multiplication

[Eugene Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful book to read. It can assist someone in teaching a young learner how to multiply.