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Peg + Cat
Peg + Cat: The Race Car Problem by Oxley, Jennifer, Aronson, Billy (September 8, 2015) Hardcover
Peg and Cat, stars of their own Emmy Award–winning animated TV series, zoom into a picture book and put math skills to the test in a lively racing adventure.Peg and Cat have built an amazing car out of things they found lying around. They’ve named her Hot Buttered Lightning (since she’s built for speed), and they plan to win the Tallapegga Twenty. If they can make it out of the junkyard, that is. It’s a good thing Peg knows the best shape to use to make wheels and how to count laps to see who is ahead. And it’s lucky that Cat reminds Peg to keep calm when she’stotally freaking out! Will Peg and Cat be the first to complete twenty laps and win the Golden Cup? Or will it be one of their quirky competitors? Count on Peg and Cat to rev up young problem-solvers for an exciting race to the finish.
Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Oxley
39 books4 followersJennifer Oxley is an author, illustrator, television writer/director, and the recipient of multiple Emmy Awards for her work on Nick Jr.’s Little Bill and as co-creator of PBS’s Peg+Cat. Jennifer lives and works in New York City as an independent filmmaker and artist.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 11, 2015
Ah, the ol' use-of-parenthesis-to-describe-awkward-plot-progression rut. On top of that grating writing technique, the humor is forced, the geometry integration feels weird, and Peg and Cat win the race because the other competitors get distracted. The inclusion of numbers was well done but I wish there was more about the construction of the race car. Another sacrifice to the television gods.
April 9, 2020
Peg and Cat enter a race where they need to get around the track in 20 laps. They build a car out of junk, but it breaks down a couple of times: first before they even get to the race track, and the second time is on the 18th or so lap, right before completing the race. Both times, they figure out a solution - first, to use a round object to replace their broken wheel, and second to use a solid object to hold the race car together after the original piece breaks. They eventually win the race, but only because the other competitors get distracted along the way.
I don't know what it is about some of these children's books, but this book makes you feel so down by the end of it. The only reason why Peg and Cat win is because the pig in the triangle car - who was in first place and about to beat them right up until the very end - gets distracted by the triangle flags next to the race track and stops his car right before the finish line to check them out. The pig loves triangles so much that he is willing to abandon the race in order to be around the triangles.
The other racers leave the race earlier on for similarly silly reasons. The entire time, Peg and Cat are losing. They only celebrate on the last page or so because they narrowly come out on top because all the other racers have left for their own silly reasons. The book has a somewhat uplifting message here - "never give up" - but the book doesn't show the protagonists trying particularly hard in the process of not giving up - they just, literally, don't give up and they end up winning through luck.
The bigger point here is that Peg and Cat were not going to win this race if it weren't for luck. Is that really a message you want to send to anyone, particularly a young person? It is certainly not a thesis that celebrates intelligence, creativity, or perseverance. It celebrates pure luck, and that's about it.
I came across this book when I was on a children's literature cite that is aimed at increasing young girls' (in particular) confidence in mathematics and science. I found a few good books on that site, but this was not one of them. To be fair, I appreciated the significance of the number 20 throughout the book. After 1-10 and especially the teens (which are useful in themselves for learning addition), the next significant number that children learn is 20. So it was great to see that. It was also great to see a little bit of "greater than/less than", and geometry, with the circles and triangles playing an important role at various points of the story.
But this book does nothing to increase girls' confidence in math and science. The overarching point is not about intelligence or hard work of Peg (or Cat),and this is not a book that will help kids feel good about their abilities. It is a book that will help them feel insufficient and hope that luck might eventually save them. That's very sad and depressing and the authors should feel ashamed of themselves for driving such a message to young people.
I only give it 2 stars because of the minimal math concepts introduced; otherwise this thing is disgraceful.
I don't know what it is about some of these children's books, but this book makes you feel so down by the end of it. The only reason why Peg and Cat win is because the pig in the triangle car - who was in first place and about to beat them right up until the very end - gets distracted by the triangle flags next to the race track and stops his car right before the finish line to check them out. The pig loves triangles so much that he is willing to abandon the race in order to be around the triangles.
The other racers leave the race earlier on for similarly silly reasons. The entire time, Peg and Cat are losing. They only celebrate on the last page or so because they narrowly come out on top because all the other racers have left for their own silly reasons. The book has a somewhat uplifting message here - "never give up" - but the book doesn't show the protagonists trying particularly hard in the process of not giving up - they just, literally, don't give up and they end up winning through luck.
The bigger point here is that Peg and Cat were not going to win this race if it weren't for luck. Is that really a message you want to send to anyone, particularly a young person? It is certainly not a thesis that celebrates intelligence, creativity, or perseverance. It celebrates pure luck, and that's about it.
I came across this book when I was on a children's literature cite that is aimed at increasing young girls' (in particular) confidence in mathematics and science. I found a few good books on that site, but this was not one of them. To be fair, I appreciated the significance of the number 20 throughout the book. After 1-10 and especially the teens (which are useful in themselves for learning addition), the next significant number that children learn is 20. So it was great to see that. It was also great to see a little bit of "greater than/less than", and geometry, with the circles and triangles playing an important role at various points of the story.
But this book does nothing to increase girls' confidence in math and science. The overarching point is not about intelligence or hard work of Peg (or Cat),and this is not a book that will help kids feel good about their abilities. It is a book that will help them feel insufficient and hope that luck might eventually save them. That's very sad and depressing and the authors should feel ashamed of themselves for driving such a message to young people.
I only give it 2 stars because of the minimal math concepts introduced; otherwise this thing is disgraceful.
December 2, 2018
My 4 year old boy and 6 year old girl loved the story, I loved the math skills and problem-solving skills. Some of the storyline was a bit clunky/preachy ("instead of getting angry, she stopped to count to 10...) but the kids didn't seem to mind because they were interested in finding out who would win the race!
August 14, 2020
I got this book for the kids because their daddy races. This was a way for them to have fun relating to him.
This story is great. It shows teamwork and problem solving. It also shows perseverance and refusing to give up. The kids loved the story and illustrations.
Great book.
This story is great. It shows teamwork and problem solving. It also shows perseverance and refusing to give up. The kids loved the story and illustrations.
Great book.
July 5, 2018
Fun way to get your little one interested in math
October 26, 2015
Based on the PBS kids series, Peg & Cat: The Race Car Problem was an entertaining read that our 3-year old granddaughter loves to have read to her. It's the first of a new series.
The premise of the story is that Peg & Cat want to participate in The Tallapegga Twenty event, but to do so they need a race car. With junkyard parts the duo persists until the car is good enough to compete. But, it the car good enough to win against some stiff competition?
The book enforces the message of never giving up, it adds colorful shapes and basic math concepts to the story for added interest and some good vocabulary words for language skill building as well. I thought the story and colorful illustrations were fun as well. I did feel that the book a bit wordy for little ones under the age of 4.
The premise of the story is that Peg & Cat want to participate in The Tallapegga Twenty event, but to do so they need a race car. With junkyard parts the duo persists until the car is good enough to compete. But, it the car good enough to win against some stiff competition?
The book enforces the message of never giving up, it adds colorful shapes and basic math concepts to the story for added interest and some good vocabulary words for language skill building as well. I thought the story and colorful illustrations were fun as well. I did feel that the book a bit wordy for little ones under the age of 4.
March 10, 2016
Peg and Cat are entering the neighborhood race with their car made out of garbage. They solve problem after problem using math and critical thinking skills and eventually are able to win the race!
Good math concepts and introduction to certain geometrical concepts like cylinders. Recommended for ages 3-6.
Good math concepts and introduction to certain geometrical concepts like cylinders. Recommended for ages 3-6.
August 27, 2016
"You never solve a problem by giving up. Keep trying your hardest, no matter what."
Hot-Buttered Lightning , the race car made out of garbage by Peg and Cat, is entered into a race against the Pirate Mobile, the Pizza Mobile and the Triangle Mobile. Things don't look very good at first, but through persistence and a little luck, Peg and Cat win the race.
Hot-Buttered Lightning , the race car made out of garbage by Peg and Cat, is entered into a race against the Pirate Mobile, the Pizza Mobile and the Triangle Mobile. Things don't look very good at first, but through persistence and a little luck, Peg and Cat win the race.
January 5, 2016
The story itself felt too drawn out, but I did like how the page numbers were listed. Instead of the traditional way, the pages numbers were listed like this:
Rather than Page 4, it would say "3+1 = 4." Every page number appeared like this.
Rather than Page 4, it would say "3+1 = 4." Every page number appeared like this.
April 7, 2016
My children (5 & 4) are both really big fans of Peg + Cat. It's cute and I kind of love the graphing paper with erased math problems for the background. This is one of the Peg + Cat books that I like. I thought it was a clever, creative book and the kids think it is so funny, they loved it.
April 14, 2016
A girl and a cat make a vehicle to enter a race. When things go wrong they have to improvise. Good for building, persistence and math skills. Probably earlier elementary. I loved that the page numbers are addition problems.
June 9, 2016
A little too wordy but I love that crazy cat!
July 12, 2016
megan summer reading 2016, children's book, picture book, series, peg + cat, problems, math, problem-solving, tv tie-in, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2016
A longer picture book with many concepts so definitely preschool and up. Peg and cat are building a race car for a soap box derby but can they win. Lots of math and perseverance.
December 3, 2015
Maybe the TV show makes more sense
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews