PEG + CAT THE LEMONADE PROBLEM
Author: Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
Illustrator: Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
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Number of pages: 31
Publisher: Candlewick First published in: 2017 Format: Picturebook Is the mathematical focus explicit in the story? Yes Is this story part of a mathematics story series? Yes (Peg + Cat) Preview and/or purchase this book on the Amazon websites: UK, USA, AUS, IND, CAN Synopsis by the author/publisher
When life gives them a problem to solve, Peg and Cat make lemonade -- and get a lesson in bartering -- in a refreshing math adventure. It's a hot day, so what could be cooler than setting up a lemonade stand? When Peg needs some marbles to keep her special marble company, she and Cat decide to sell lemonade in exchange for ten marbles a cup. But the Teens have other ideas. "But just one cup for ten marbles?" says Mora. "I'm not made of marbles!" So Peg and Cat keep changing their sign until they hit a price -- two marbles! -- that has customers lining up. There's just one problem: Peg and Cat forgot the cups! Can they barter their way back into business -- or will they end up totally freaking out? |
“"I'll pay you TWO HUNDRED cups!" "Is TWO HUNDRED more than TWENTY?" asked Cat. "Way more," said Mac. He showed TWO HUNDRED cups and TWENTY cups on a chart so that Cat could compare.”
Official review by MathsThroughStories.org:
Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson’s ‘Peg + Cat The Lemonade Problem’ (2017) is based on an episode of the same name in the long-running award-winning animated TV series, called Peg + Cat. In this particular title, Peg and Cat decide to set up a lemonade stall business to get people to buy their lemonade with marbles. At ten marbles per cup, customers find the price a bit too steep. Peg and Cat find themselves have to lower their price again and again by using a smaller number each time. While that is going on, Cat is on a separate mission to get 20 cups as Peg forgets to get them earlier. With different people offering him different numbers of cups, Cat finds the use of bar graphs useful to help him compare the number of cups he needs and the numbers of cups being offered to him. The visual representations of the different marbles required to buy a cup of lemonade and of the bar charts to compare the different numbers of cups are useful to help very young children visualise these early mathematical concepts. The context of the story is purposeful. It is also useful that the inner side of the book cover (of the hard copy version, at least) features two worksheets relating to the story which children can work on to help them consolidate their mathematical understanding after finishing the story. However, as the story is essentially a shorten printed version of the animated 10-minute version, it feels a bit wordy at times, particularly given how very young the target audience is. All in all, we recommend ‘Peg + Cat The Pizza Problem’ to introduce both the concepts of number comparison and data handling 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:
Comparing and ordering numbers; Data handling
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.
Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson’s ‘Peg + Cat The Lemonade Problem’ (2017) is based on an episode of the same name in the long-running award-winning animated TV series, called Peg + Cat. In this particular title, Peg and Cat decide to set up a lemonade stall business to get people to buy their lemonade with marbles. At ten marbles per cup, customers find the price a bit too steep. Peg and Cat find themselves have to lower their price again and again by using a smaller number each time. While that is going on, Cat is on a separate mission to get 20 cups as Peg forgets to get them earlier. With different people offering him different numbers of cups, Cat finds the use of bar graphs useful to help him compare the number of cups he needs and the numbers of cups being offered to him. The visual representations of the different marbles required to buy a cup of lemonade and of the bar charts to compare the different numbers of cups are useful to help very young children visualise these early mathematical concepts. The context of the story is purposeful. It is also useful that the inner side of the book cover (of the hard copy version, at least) features two worksheets relating to the story which children can work on to help them consolidate their mathematical understanding after finishing the story. However, as the story is essentially a shorten printed version of the animated 10-minute version, it feels a bit wordy at times, particularly given how very young the target audience is. All in all, we recommend ‘Peg + Cat The Pizza Problem’ to introduce both the concepts of number comparison and data handling 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:
Comparing and ordering numbers; Data handling
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.
