Pete the Cat and His four Groovy Buttons

Posted By Erica Orozco

Title: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Author: Eric Litwin
Illustrator: James Dean
Recommended Grade Level: Preschool-2nd

Common Core Mathematical Standards:

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.2-  Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3- Write number from 0 to 20.  Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4a- When counting objects, say number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and one number name and each number name with one and only one object.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.2- Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.5- Fluently add and subtract within 5.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.A.2- Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Model Mathematics.
Attend to precision.

Summary:

Pete is a cat that has a 4 groovy button shirt, that are all circles with different colors.  He loved his buttons so much he liked to sing a song saying, "My buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons" etc.. throughout the story Petes' buttons pop off and he sings his song again with the amount of buttons that fell off. Not only that but the book shows the number such as "3" and its name "Three" and also shows the subtraction equation as while, such as; "4-1=3."  The book is repetitive with the same song, the only thing that changes in the number, name and equation shown.  He doesn't cry when his buttons come off, he learns that buttons come and buttons go which is part of the song.  The numbers go from 4 to 0 and showing at the end that what's left is his belly button and he keeps singing his song adding my belly button. " My button, my button, still have my belly button."  The book shows children that stuff will come and stuff will go, but we don't cry we keep on singing and be happy.

Rating: ***** This book makes children laugh and have fun with math.  I would highly recommend it because not only does it teach about math, but also literacy as well with repetitive simple words for children to read on their own.  It teaching them a lesson about stuff will come and stuff will go, but don't cry keep singing and be happy.  It also teaching them they have a belly button, buttons are circles and the different colors of each as they pop off.

Classroom Ideas:

This book can be used to teach mathematical concepts in subtraction and literacy concepts in learning simple words that are repetitive to start reading.  Students can use a subtracting, and adding during their center time or even throughout the day of school.  Blocks, Dramatic play, Sand, Table Toys, even painting children can use different materials of their choice and start to solve addition and subtraction problems on their own.  For example if a child takes take one block out of the equation of having 5 blocks, he would figure out how many would be left?  Even during circle time you can use it to tally up the amount of children in class today.  How many children are here today?  How many children are not here?  Some times children leave, how many are left? Etc... Using this book can be done in many different ways and doing so children are having fun with laugher reading along with it.