You Can, Toucan, Math: Word Problem-Solving Fun

by David A. Adler

This book introduces kids to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in a fun and unthreatening fashion. Math riddles encourage young readers to think through math problems as they study both the amusing verse and pictures. Solutions and tables are provided.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, 1st Grade, Subtraction, Division

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You Can, Toucan, Math: Word Problem-Solving Fun" is a great book to read with students who are learning to solve word problems. Within this book, there are various different story based word problems to keep the students engaged, but critically thinking. I think this book has good quality word problems as well as illustrations that keep the students engaged and wanting to solve them. This book could easily be used within a first or second-grade classroom to work with students on solving word problems while using manipulatives.

[Lisseth C · Rating 5 out of 5]

My personal reaction towards this book was that it’s an excellent book to guide students with word problems for students that are in 2nd to 3rd grade. I really like it because it shows all the operation (addition, subtracting, multiplying, and division) and I like how students can stop at each problem and look at the key terms to know what operation to use to solve it and then they can move on to the next problem.

[Karli Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for what it is! I have not always been a fan of math, but I felt that this book was engaging. I also believe that it is great practice for young children when learning how to choose the correct operation to solve different word problems. I would not read this for a pleasure reading however.

[Aliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is made up of a counting game. The author shares different math problems to solve involving, addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. He uses a series of different animals to present a counting game. For example, the author asks you to count the number of flamingo legs on the page then uses that number to solve an arithmetic problem.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem I just discovered, this book is about word problems. With colorful puzzles and explanations, and the answers (of course) this is a manageable crash course in math riddles for primary students.

[Dew Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a very cute story. The illustrations were simple and colorful so it is good for read-aloud.

[Deyna Casas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Math problems, Addition, Subtraction

[Kalynsia Turner]

Fun problem solving math problems

[Lynnea (Juv) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book to practice/review when to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. I love it!

[Lainey Hunt]

Engaging, informational, problem- solving

[Margaret Welwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent aid for developing math sense in the early grades.

[Samantha Sharp]

Covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Good connection between reading and math.

[Jordan Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You Can, Toucan, Math: Word Problem-Solving Fun” introduces children from Kindergarten to 3rd grade to addition, subtraction, division and word problems in a fun inviting way! I love this book and what it teaches young kids! The concept of this book is to give students a visual way to learn math! In my class for college I actually had the pleasure of using this book for a lesson plan! The illustrations are bright and really draw the readers in! I love that this book is great for all elementary ages from Kindergarten to 3rd grade! I highly recommend this book to any student or future teacher who is diving into math!

[Anna Frame · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERSONAL REACTION
I absolutely loved this book and will definitely be using this in my classroom. This book makes math seem fun and I think that students would love this book and be excited about doing math. It is very creative with its word problems and has great visuals that students could use as a guide if they needed to.

PURPOSE/USE IN CLASSROOM
-this would be a great read aloud during a simple math unit (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) when students are being introduced to word problems because the book phrases the questions in ways that force the student to make real world applications to math
-this would be appropriate for anyone in grades 1-3
-this would also be a great independent read for students when they want to practice word problems on their own
-the answers are on the bottom of each page so if students were using this book during an independent study time, they would be able to check their answers and make sure their work is correct
-this is considered informational because everything in this book is factual and it provides great resources for simple math
-there are some pages with simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems
-the book also uses mathematically correct terms

Overall, this is a book that will be used in my classroom because it is a fun way to incorporate a subject that not all students enjoy. I love how the pages show great visuals of how the word problems are written out and I think that it is a book that would only benefit students positively.

[Sarah Ziskend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces kids to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in a fun and unthreatening fashion. Math riddles encourage young readers to think through math problems as they study both the amusing verse and pictures. Solutions and tables are provided.

Teaches:
1. Addition
2. Subtraction
3. Multiplication
4. Division

Not good for read aloud, but rather small groups or centers.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this colorful AND educational book!

It is a very helpful learning aide for any age when needing to learn and practice one's arithmetic problems including subtraction, addition, multiplication and division. The pages are filled with colorful and simple math story problems in which the reader is able to practice and allows them to improve on their work with additional information and answers given. In addition, helpful charts on all four operations are provided within the book.

[Khadija Bensaadoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colorful book that includes addition, subtraction, multiplication and division word problems. On the side of each page there includes the solutions for the word problem. It has wonderful illustrations that help the readers visualize the word problems. Activity: the students can create word problems and switch with a partner who will solve the word problem using pictures. Grade 1-5

[Allison Burke]

Adorable math book on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It engages the reader to answer the math questions about the birds in the picture. Great illustrations for the reader to use when answering the questions. Provides the answers at the bottom of each page. Very playful book! Grades 2-4

[Shunta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cute little book. teaches addition and subtraction. Has nice models, word problems, its rhyming, and has colorful pics. I would let the students choose and example fromt he book and recreate it.

[Tien Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would use this book to incorporate in my math lessons. This book will help the students with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division without being in a very structured math lecture. However, this book will only be a supplement to a lesson, not a primary teaching resource.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really fun. My kids almost didn't know it was math. It would be best to have a paper and pencil on hand when you read it, we didn't and I regretted it. The moment was lost.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never did read this one until now.. Math problem solving fun with various birds...

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book of simple math word problems. The illustrations are great and I really enjoyed reading this with my 4th graders.

[Hannah Meyer-Hartle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Math, Non-Fiction, Animals,Riddles

[Katy]

interesting, math, elementary, engaging, tongue twisters, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

[Rosalyn Massey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven'
t started reading yet

[Lodoiska Rodriguez]

I would use this book at a fifth-grade level. This book can be an activity on its own. I could use various pages, so students can solve the riddles with different math concepts.