Counting Crocodiles by: Judy Sierra (Yanery Cuzo)

Author: Judy Sierra
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand

Recommended Grade Level: K-2nd

CCSSM Content Standards: Count to tell the number of objects. 

4. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality. 

a. When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object. 

d. Develop understanding of ordinal numbers (first through tenth) to describe the relative position and magnitude of whole numbers. 

CCSSM Standard for Mathematical Practice: 

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. 

Summary: Poor Monkey. All she has to eat are sour lemons...morning, noon, and night. One day she spies a banana tree on a faraway island, but the only way to get there is to navigate the crocodile infested waters of the Sillabobble Sea. That's no problem when your a brave and clever monkey who knows how to count to ten and back!

Rating (1-5 Stars): ***** I highly recommend this fun filled story. The students will definitely enjoy helping Monkey find her way to the banana tree.

Classroom Ideas/Lesson Ideas: 
I would use the book to practice problem solving skills. The students can explore ways to count forwards and backwards using unifix cubes, other manipulatives/objects, and themselves to make things fun and engaging. They can also make book innovations and substitute the characters using the same counting concepts.