Have a Slice Day

The Great Mathemachicken #2

by Nancy E. Krulik, Charlie Alder (Illustrator)

Chirpy the chick makes a new friend who helps her discover how delicious fractions can be in the second book in New York Times bestselling author Nancy Krulik.

After her feats of math and science derring-do, Chirpy is the talk of the coop. So when the chicks face a new problem—Clucky greedily chomping down on all the chow—they turn to their Great Mathemachicken for a solution.

Wandering off to think, she meets Quackers, a very curious duck, who has a lot of his own questions. Unfortunately, Chirpy doesn’t have answers. But she knows the best place to find them—school! So the pair hops on the bus to do some investigation, learning about reading and pizza, tally marks and fractions. And it turns out, fractions are yummy . . .  and may be the answer to the chickens’ coop conundrum.

The second book in the Great Mathemachicken chapter book series, combines New York Times bestselling author Nancy Krulik’s trademark humor and clever wordplay with hilarious and lively two-color artwork from the incredibly talented Charlie Alder, to create an engrossing and charming STEM-based adventure that will have young readers clucking for more.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books

96 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times bestsellers. She is best known, however, for being the author and creator of the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo book series, which has brought her to the attention of second, third, and fourth graders nationwide.

Nancy has also written extensively for teens and is well known as a biographer of Hollywood's hottest young stars. Her knowledge of the details of celebrities lives has made her a desired guest on several entertainment shows on the E! network as well as on Extra and Access Hollywood. She can be seen there talking about the secret lives of such celebs as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, and Frankie Muniz. Nancy has also been a guest on radio broadcasts nationwide discussing the superstars she has researched over the years.

As the author of several teen and preteen advice books, including Grosset and Dunlap's Prom!: The Complete Guide to a Truly Spectacular Night, Nancy has been interviewed by several prominent magazines including Cosmo Girl, Teen, Teen People, Seventeen, and Teen Celebrity. She has also been the celebrity guest for three Teen People chat presentations. Nancy has recently begun to delve into the teen novel market, writing four romances for young adults, all of which will be published between 2004 and 2005.

Nancy currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their two children, Amanda and Ian, and a crazed cockerspaniel named Pepper .

Reviews

[Becky]

First sentence: "Eggs-cuse me, please," Chirpy said. The little chick was hungry. But she could not reach the feeder. Clucky was blocking Chirpy's path. Clucky was blocking everyone's path.

Premise/plot: Clucky is a Greedy Gus. (I jest). Seriously though, Chirpy and the other chicks are having a BIG problem with one not-so-little chicken named Clucky. Can Chirpy (and a new friend, a duck) find a solution at school??? Perhaps! The school children are learning all about fractions and Chirpy has an idea that maybe just maybe she can apply her new knowledge to the coop.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Both books in this series are fun. I do enjoy books about chickens. I don't love, love, love math (or science), but put it into a fun, illustrated story, and I'll give it a chance. I would recommend this one to elementary readers.

[Gretchen]

The Mathemachicken just makes me smile! I love how math concepts are explained in such clear ways in these books so that students can enjoy them and learn as they are reading. It also gives the readers the ability to "find" the solutions to the math without feeling as though it is math. It's just fun reading. I think these books can be used in classrooms in so many ways depending upon the age of the students and the subject you want to explore. I can see the book being used during reading, math, and writing and being enjoyed in all.

[Pam]

Graphic Novel
The mathemachicken is back and helping friends figure out how to share. She meets a new friend who is different from her and they enjoy school together. When one of the chicks bullies the others, she comes up with a solution using fractions to make sure everyone gets the same amount of food.
Elementary level readers will love the humor and fun in the illustrations and dialogue. I appreciate the math being shared within the story.

[Cheryl]

Explicitly STEM (intro. to fractions and counting by five in different national cultures) but also a story that's even more fun than the first book in the trilogy. I will def. read the third. But please do not turn on the oven for two halves of a pizza English muffin. Get a toaster oven, and make enough for the rest of the family while you're at it. (I can't remember the last time I used the big oven for anything but cookies.)

[AMY]

69 pgs. This is a book of a silly series kids will enjoy. This time the chick and a new duck friend sneak back into the local school and learn about fractions. There is lots of chicken and math humor throughout the book. Funny illustrations. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.

[Themountainbookie]

What a fun and silly book. Follow the mathemachicken on a great adventure. She hopes on the bus and goes to school. Learning all kinds of math. A great sneaky way to have math in your book. I love books like this that help make learning exciting.

[Mary T]

My 6yo and 5yo sons enjoyed this. We read it in one sitting.