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EXPLORE OTHER 'FRACTION' STORIES HERE

GRANDMA’S RED SILK DRESS​
​Author: Young-ah Kim
​Illustrator: Yoon-min Han

Picture
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: TanTan Publishing (USA)
First published in: Unknown
​Translated into English in: 2015
Format: Picturebook

Is the mathematical focus explicit in the story? Yes
Is this story part of a mathematics story series? Yes (TanTan Math Story)

Preview and/or purchase this book on the Amazon websites: UK, USA, AUS, CAN

Synopsis by the author/publisher
Grandma’s red silk dress that she brought when she got married is divided into parts as the years go by. Some parts go into making a quilt, others a tablecloth, a vest, and a lucky bag. Readers learn about parts and wholes through the story of Grandma’s red dress. Elementary math concepts that relate to understanding the whole and parts expand this warm-spirited celebration of family and intergenerational love.​
“Grandma cut the vest into pieces. She said two of the pieces would become a blessing pouch for me. [...] Parts can come together to become a new whole.” 
Official review by MathsThroughStories.org:
Young-ah Kim’s ‘Grandma’s Red Silk Dress’ is part of the world’s largest mathematical story picture book series, called TanTan Math Story (70+ titles). The English translation of this original South Korean version was done in 2015. The story is about a grandma who is making a blessing pouch to be filled with lucky money for her granddaughter. The piece of cloth used to make the pouch is previously part of Grandma’s vest, which itself is previously part of Grandma’s wedding dress. The story provides a great introduction to fraction, specifically the relationships between parts and a whole. Like most titles in this series, the book comes with a few mathematical word problems relating to the story to be solved at the end of the story. All in all, ‘Grandma’s Red Silk Dress’ is a wonderful story to introduce the concept of fraction to children aged 5+ years old. (Disclaimer: We received a complimentary inspection copy of this book from the publisher/author)
​
​Recommended age range: 
5 years old + 

Relevant mathematics topics: 
Fraction

​Possible teaching activities:
At MathsThroughStories.org, we believe that stories can be meaningfully incorporated in mathematics teaching in different ways. Thus, we are inviting you to share your experience of how you have used this story in your mathematics lesson with other members of the community. By sharing your experience with us, you will be added to our team of On-line Contributors here, where you can also find our submission guideline. 

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ABOUT US

MathsThroughStories.org is a non-profit research-based initiative, based at the University of Reading's Institute of Education (UK).

It sets out to help mathematics learners around the world develop their conceptual understanding in mathematics and to help them foster positive attitudes towards the subject through  the power of storytelling.

Contact Us

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • RESEARCH TEAM
    • On-line Contributors
    • Research Dissemination
    • Research Impact
    • SHOUTOUTS
    • Teacher Training / CPD Services
    • MEDIA APPEARANCES
  • RESOURCES
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
    • BLOG
    • NEWSLETTER
    • BOOK REVIEWS >
      • BOOK REVIEWS
      • INSPECTION COPIES
    • LESSON IDEAS
    • VIDEOS
    • CREATE YOUR OWN MATHEMATICAL STORIES >
      • GUIDELINE FOR MATHEMATICAL STORY AUTHORS
      • INTERVIEWS WITH MATHEMATICAL STORY AUTHORS
    • 'HOW TO' BOOKS
    • RESEARCH ARTICLES
    • PRACTITIONER-ORIENTED ARTICLES
  • COMPETITIONS
    • 2025 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2024 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2023 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2022 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2021 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2020 YMSA WINNING, SHORTLISTED AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
    • 2019 YMSA WINNING AND SHORTLISTED ENTRIES
  • NEWS
  • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED