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SHARK SWIMATHON​
Author: Stuart J. Murphy
​Illustrator: Lynne Cravath

Number of pages: 31
Publisher: HarperCollins (USA)
First published in: 2001
Format: Picturebook

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

Click here to preview and/or purchase this book via the Amazon (UK) website ​
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Synopsis by the author/publisher
The Ocean City Sharks swim team—Gill, Fin, Stripes, Tiny, and the hammerhead twins, Flip and Flap—really want to go the state swim meet, but they're short on funds. If they can swim 75 laps over the next four days, the local newspaper will sponsor them. The first day they swim a total of 14 laps (75 - 14 = 61). The next day they do a little better with 17 laps (61-17 = 44) But will they make their goal? Learning to subtract 2-digit numbers with and without regrouping prepares children for subtracting larger numbers.

“The Sharks watched as Coach Blue totaled their laps on her clipboard. Then she subtracted the total from the 75-lap goal. "Super job!" Coach Blue announced. "Now we just have 61 laps to go," said Flap as she and Flip gobbled down a snack.”

Recommended age range: 
5 years old + 

Relevant mathematics topics: 
Addition & Subtraction

​Possible teaching activities:
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