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EXPLORE OTHER 'ADDITION & SUBTRACTION' STORIES HERE

WHILE MUMMY HEN WAS AWAY 
Author: Young So You
​Illustrator: Byeong Ho Han

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Number of pages: 28
Publisher: Ginger Books
First published in: Unknown
Translated into English in: 2013
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
This clever and humorous book encourages children to practise counting from 1 to 5. It also teaches them simple addition and subtraction skills. The rhyming story features familiar farmyard animals. It follows Mummy Hen’s five little eggs as they are separated and reunited by a host of curious characters.
“Auntie Duck arrived at the nest. She had a missing egg of her own. So she took one of Mummy Hen's eggs and waddled off straight back home.”
Official review by MathsThroughStories.org:
Young So You’s ‘While Mummy Hen Was Away’ 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 2013. The story is about five eggs being left on their own by Mummy Hen when she is taking a break. Little does she know that her eggs are at risks of being taken away by a wicked wolf, two curious children, and a sneaky duck. The story does well in providing a meaningful and fun context for children to learn about subtraction (and addition) without coming across as a mathematics textbook in disguise. 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, ‘While Mummy Hen Was Away’ is recommended for children aged 4+ years old. (Disclaimer: We received a complimentary inspection copy of this book from the publisher/author)

Recommended age range: 
4+ years old 

Relevant mathematics topics: 
​Addition & Subtraction

​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.

​mathsthroughstories.org

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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
    • 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