Dinosaur Deals: Equivalent Values (MathStart 3 Series)

by Stuart J. Murphy, Kevin O'Malley (Illustrator), Heather Henson

Overview

“Kids, young and old, fall in love with math when they see how real-life and effortless it becomes thanks to these books.” —Kimberly D. Mueller, Ed.D., First Grade Teacher, Ashbrook School, Lumberton NJ

Dinosaur Deals is perfect for teaching equivalent values to second, third, and fourth graders. Mike and his little brother, Andy, are headed for the Dinosaur Card Trading Fair. They're ready to wheel and deal. But can they get what they really want: the tremendous, gigantic, ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex? 

Kids will love the story and the illustrations by Kevin O'Malley. Parents and educators will love how the story and pictures make understanding the math concepts a breeze—as well as the concrete examples of how math works. The book contains activities for adults to do with kids to extend math into their own lives.

Math skills are life skills, and the MathStart series supports success!

• This award-winning series by Stuart J. Murphy teaches math through stories and visual models
• 63 books divided into three levels with 21 books in each
• Fun activities kids will love are included to help parents and teachers emphasize the lessons
• Engaging and relatable stories, with each story revolving around practical applications of the math concept presented
• Lively art from top-notch illustrators
• Charts and other visual representations help children understand how the math works and promote deeper comprehension

MathStart's unique combination of stories, illustrations, and visual models helps teachers and parents in the teaching of math and provides all children with the opportunity to succeed.

The math concepts taught in MathStart books conform to state and national standards. Level 1 is Pre-K–Kindergarten; Level 2 is Grades 1–3; Level 3 is Grades 2–4. The series follows math topics across grades so there is a foundational path to learning that runs through the levels.

Help kids with their math skills plus their reading skills with the engaging and fun MathStart series!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780064462518
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/21/2001
Series:	MathStart 3 Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	448,970
Product dimensions:	9.81(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Lexile:	610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Stuart J. Murphy is a visual learning specialist. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he has a strong background in design and art direction. He also has extensive experience in the world of educational publishing. Drawing on all these talents, Stuart J. Murphy brings a unique perspective to the MathStart series. In MathStart books, pictures do more than tell stories; they teach math.

Stuart J. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in Boston.

Kevin O'Malley has illustrated many entertaining books for children, including Too Many Kangaroo Things to Do! By Stuart J. Murphy, Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson, and his own Carl Caught a Flying Fish.

Kevin O'Malley lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Heather Henson was born and raised in Kentucky and later moved to New York City, where she studied creative writing at the New School University and at City College/City University of New York. She has worked as an editor of books for young readers and as a freelance writer. Her short stories have appeared in the literary journal Promethean. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son. This is her first novel.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 2-4-Using dinosaur trading cards as a theme, Murphy explores the concept of equivalent values. Mike and his brother, Andy, go to a trading fair in hopes of finding a Tyrannosaurus rex card. By making various trades they are successful in getting the coveted item. The story contains just the right amount of tension as well as tidbits of dinosaur facts interspersed among the math concepts. Colorful pictures of enthusiastic traders in dinosaur masks and hats add interest. A concluding page gives suggestions of various math activities that correlate with the book. Teachers and students alike will find this one a winner.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Murphy continues to amuse with math-quite a trick considering the amount of anxiety the subject manages to generate. Here he tackles the concept of comparative value by working it into a story of trading cards. Mike and his brother Andy are dinosaur trading card enthusiasts. It's Andy's birthday and as a special treat he is getting to accompany older brother Mike to a trading fair for the first time. Mike is in hot pursuit of a Tyrannosaurus rex card, but he has to wheel and deal to get the cards the owner of the T. rex wants in trade. As the story progresses, small boxed items on the page allow readers to see the action in terms of equations-two Pterosaur cards equals one Stegosaurus card, four of which equal one Tyrannosaurus card-and also learn a few facts about the dinosaurs. And sweetly, at the end of all the furious trading Mike gives Andy the card for his birthday present. O'Malley's color-shocked artwork is a real plus to Murphy's story, which easily takes the mystifying sting out of comparatives. A guide is included to help kids get the most out of the book, and a few games are suggested to enjoyably extend the math lesson. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)

Kirkus Reviews