ChildrensPictureBook.info Review

Piece = Part = Portion: Fractions = Decimals = Percents

By Scott Gifford
Illustrator Shmuel Thaler
Publisher Tricycle Press

This book presents the concept that 1/2, .50, and 50% are different mathematical ways to describe the same thing. Each two-page spread includes a photograph of an object or objects that illustrates the fraction being presented - for example, a traffic light with the yellow light lit represents 1/3, .33, and 33%. The fraction, decimal, and percent figures are in large easy-to-read type.

This is an excellent book for helping kids understand that the denominator of a fraction represents the number of parts the whole has been divided into or the number of pieces in a group of pieces. I like that some illustrations are a whole divided into parts, like 1/8 of a pie, and others are a group of objects like eleven soccer shirts for a soccer team. And each illustration is of something that we really think in terms of - sixths is the ring holder from a six-pack of pop with one pop can remaining and an egg carton with one egg represents 1/12.

A page at the beginning of the book explains how to convert a fraction to a decimal to a percent. Other than the fact that the author puts the decimal number, .20, and percent, 20%, on the same page as the fraction 1/5, there is no way of determining why they are the same thing. The illustrations really relate more to the fraction. Pennies on the 99/100 page represent the only time we see a correlation between fraction, decimal, and percent. If you want to emphasize with your child that every fraction has a unique decimal and percent, this book will help you get that point across and give you some great illustrations for discussing fractions.

Piece = Part = Portion: Fractions = Decimals = Percents

More Math Book Reviews