Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Burns (The I Hate Mathematics! Book) inventively turns a family reunion into a lesson on perimeters. Readers can hone their division skills as Mr. Comfort bakes "16 loaves of garlic bread" and rolls "96 meatballs" for the 32 attendees. Meanwhile, Mrs. Comfort perfectly arranges 32 chairs around eight square tables, according to a bird's-eye-view blueprint. Family will be family, however, and as the guests arrive, they elect to sit together, carelessly pushing tables into banquet-style rectangles that won't accommodate all 32 chairs. Tilley's (Riddle-icious) wide-angle illustrations provide a good view of the melée, as visitors rearrange at whim and a harried Mrs. Comfort brandishes her map of the original plan. In an afterword, Burns suggests that adults act as guides to young audiences and use cutout squares to represent the table placement. A wise recommendation if the intention is to teach, but for many the mirthful game of musical chairs may take precedence over perimeters. Ages 7-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4Mr. and Mrs. Comfort decide to have a family dinner and invite their children, parents, in-laws, and neighbors. To seat the 32 guests, eight square tables and the appropriate number of chairs are rented and arranged according to a plan devised by Mrs. Comfort. However, as the guests arrive, they rearrange the furniture so they can sit together, resulting in mayhem until Mrs. Comfort's original configuration once again evolves. Subtitled "A Mathematical Story," the focus of this picture book is math concepts, not story. A note for adults suggests exercises in shapes and perimeter. Somewhat humorous, sketchy cartoons are busy and cluttered as guests of various ages and ethnicity rearrange furnishings, table settings, and food. While teachers might find this title useful for conveying math ideas, it is not a necessary purchase for most libraries.Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
As relatives trickle in for the family reunion, they push together tables and move aside chairs, ruining Mrs. Comfort's seating plan. Young mathematicians may want to use cardboard squares--which the author suggests--to represent tables as they follow this real-life exploration of perimeter and area. Energetic illustrations capture the chaos and fun of a family get-together. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
