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Helping Animals & Changing Habitats
What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story
In Suzanne Slade's latest book, What's the Difference?, you can celebrate the huge difference caring people make for endangered animals while you practice subtraction skills. In this sequel to her popular addition title, What's New at the Zoo?, Slade presents a new subtraction problem in each clever rhyming verse. The colorful watercolors include realistic animals set in lush spreads by illustrator, Joan Waites. So join in the celebration of our world's precious animals in this exciting new title, and have fun practicing math skills along the way! The For Creative Minds educational section Endangered Animal Vocabulary; Food Chains and Webs; Missing Links in Food Chains; Endangered Animals; Fact Families.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2010
About the author
Suzanne Slade
167 books131 followersSibert honoree author of more than 150 books for chlldren.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 6, 2023
While I do appreciate how Suzanne Slade (text) and Joan Waites (illustrations) make their subtraction exercises both textual and also illustrative (visual) for their 2010 STEM themed picture book What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story (so that children can use the depicted text, the numerical equations and also the bright and expressively realistic artwork to figure out the necessary math answers), frankly, I do find how the twelve endangered (North American) animal species are being presented in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story more than a bit problematic and academically lacking.
For one and first and foremost, while the subtraction math problems shown in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story in my opinion seem geared towards a kindergarten to probably at the most grade two age group, the accompanying scientific and ecological information on the endangered animal species that Suzanne Slade provides in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story (both within the text proper and also in the supplemental information) are obviously meant more for older readers, for children from about the age of nine or so onwards (and yes, that my inner nine year old most definitely feels that the math problems for What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story therefore are overly simplistic and annoyingly boring since none of the subtraction problems use numbers above twelve, not to mention that of the featured twelve math exercises of What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story, five of them have the same answer, which really is a bit yawn, yawn, yawn).
And for two, albeit that the ecological and biological information Suzanne Slade provides in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story seems scientifically and ecologically accurate and is sufficiently educational and interesting (on bald eagles, Utah prairie dogs, Karner blue butterflies, whooping cranes, Mississippi gopher frogs, American crocodiles, Atlantic salmon, bowhead whales, West Indian manatees, Southern sea otters, grey bats and red wolves), sorry, but there is (at least for me and in my humble opinion) not nearly enough direct criticism, not enough naming and active condemnation being textually done by Slade, with many of the words in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story being pretty cloyingly optimistic, vague, pointing out that these twelve animal species are endangered due to habitat loss because of human activities, hunting and pollution but with Suzanne Slade not ever really delving in any way deeply and being specifically and necessarily nasty towards for example the makers, the producers of DDT (for bald eagles), towards the farmers who routinely and callously shot whooping cranes almost to extinction, towards in particular countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland for still officially engaging in and celebrating commercial whaling and towards those brainless ignoramuses who continue to actively advocate for massive wolf culls and that humans seemingly always have much more value than animals do.
So yes, although What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story does have Suzanne Slade providing a sufficiently decent message supportive of conservation and of protecting vulnerable and threatened with extinction North American animal species, that Slade's criticism seems rather mild and is in my opinion also trying to promote conservation efforts without seemingly ever wanting to rock the proverbial boat so to speak and to bother industrialists, governments, farmers, ranchers etc. all too much, this, the absence of a bibliography and how the scientific textual parts of What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story do not (as already mentioned above) mesh all that well with the mathematics parts and vice versa, for me, this makes What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story only a two star rating and to also only be recommended with some very serious reservations and caveats.
For one and first and foremost, while the subtraction math problems shown in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story in my opinion seem geared towards a kindergarten to probably at the most grade two age group, the accompanying scientific and ecological information on the endangered animal species that Suzanne Slade provides in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story (both within the text proper and also in the supplemental information) are obviously meant more for older readers, for children from about the age of nine or so onwards (and yes, that my inner nine year old most definitely feels that the math problems for What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story therefore are overly simplistic and annoyingly boring since none of the subtraction problems use numbers above twelve, not to mention that of the featured twelve math exercises of What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story, five of them have the same answer, which really is a bit yawn, yawn, yawn).
And for two, albeit that the ecological and biological information Suzanne Slade provides in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story seems scientifically and ecologically accurate and is sufficiently educational and interesting (on bald eagles, Utah prairie dogs, Karner blue butterflies, whooping cranes, Mississippi gopher frogs, American crocodiles, Atlantic salmon, bowhead whales, West Indian manatees, Southern sea otters, grey bats and red wolves), sorry, but there is (at least for me and in my humble opinion) not nearly enough direct criticism, not enough naming and active condemnation being textually done by Slade, with many of the words in What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story being pretty cloyingly optimistic, vague, pointing out that these twelve animal species are endangered due to habitat loss because of human activities, hunting and pollution but with Suzanne Slade not ever really delving in any way deeply and being specifically and necessarily nasty towards for example the makers, the producers of DDT (for bald eagles), towards the farmers who routinely and callously shot whooping cranes almost to extinction, towards in particular countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland for still officially engaging in and celebrating commercial whaling and towards those brainless ignoramuses who continue to actively advocate for massive wolf culls and that humans seemingly always have much more value than animals do.
So yes, although What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story does have Suzanne Slade providing a sufficiently decent message supportive of conservation and of protecting vulnerable and threatened with extinction North American animal species, that Slade's criticism seems rather mild and is in my opinion also trying to promote conservation efforts without seemingly ever wanting to rock the proverbial boat so to speak and to bother industrialists, governments, farmers, ranchers etc. all too much, this, the absence of a bibliography and how the scientific textual parts of What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story do not (as already mentioned above) mesh all that well with the mathematics parts and vice versa, for me, this makes What's the Difference? An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story only a two star rating and to also only be recommended with some very serious reservations and caveats.
March 4, 2011
Another great book from Sylvan Dell company that packs in a good story about endangered animals, has beautifully vivid illustrations, and is also a great learning experience. This particular book not only contains the back section unique to these books entitled "For Creative Minds" that educates children on endangered animals, but throughout the book basc subtraction problems are on each page that help children learn about endangered animals and the conservation efforts to fix this global issue.
October 29, 2017
This book could have potentially reached a broader audience by offering more number based statistics (with larger related numbers) for the endangered animals. Weak level of subtraction challenge, definitely for very young children.
July 28, 2018
While the subtraction side of this story is much too easy for 4th grade students, this is another great example of how you can take non-fiction information and use a variety of formats to present it. This book gives great pieces of information about different wild animals and their endangered status. Then it uses those animals to simply create subtraction word problems. Creative. It reminded me a little of how this format is used for ABC books.
April 27, 2021
Multiple levels to enjoy
January 9, 2022
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August 3, 2023
What a cute story, a perfect combination of Science & Math. My grandson excels at Math and he really enjoyed it!
February 15, 2012
Each double page offers a simple rhyming stanza asking the child to look carefully at the animals illustrated and do the simple subtraction problem. The book could be read to young children with just the rhymes and math. However, for the older children there is a text box describing in simple terms, the species, the habitat dangers they have been facing and how things have improved for the species over the past years. So, for example, DDT had been causing the shells of these birds to become so thin that hatchlings were being born before they were fully developed and thus dying. DDT was banned in '72 and the population of these eagles has increased from around 1000 to 20,000 over the past 50 years, and they are no longer on the endangered list!
Why I like this Book: Soooo many books focus on what is wrong (and indeed the situation is dire for many animals), I love the 'What's right?' focus of this book. Many of the species cited have been transferred from the endangered to the threatened list. Kids will be able to learn this distinction. Combing the easy take-away sums will not only make the book very interactive, but of course, subtly highlights, the loss many species have suffered. I was introduced to the Mississippi Gopher frogs and Prairie dogs, which I don't know so well. Illustrations are in gentle water color and have a retro feel. This book celebrates the difference that caring people can make in looking out for these species!
Why I like this Book: Soooo many books focus on what is wrong (and indeed the situation is dire for many animals), I love the 'What's right?' focus of this book. Many of the species cited have been transferred from the endangered to the threatened list. Kids will be able to learn this distinction. Combing the easy take-away sums will not only make the book very interactive, but of course, subtly highlights, the loss many species have suffered. I was introduced to the Mississippi Gopher frogs and Prairie dogs, which I don't know so well. Illustrations are in gentle water color and have a retro feel. This book celebrates the difference that caring people can make in looking out for these species!
August 24, 2014
Introducing math into the daily lives of children is the best way to make certain it takes root and comes to life in their thinking and reasoning. Bringing the math concepts into the storybook is a concept that has life and validity all its own.
Arbordale Publishing (previously Sylvan Dell Publishing) has several books that bring educational concepts - particularly math - into the storyline as well as infusing the story with other facts and concepts. In What's the Difference children are introduced to the endangered animal dilemma; and along with this introduction of a scientific fact, subtraction is used as a way to enforce the sheer concept of loss the plight of these endangered animals presents.
Additionally (pun intended), the book is written in rhyme which again reinforces the learning process.
Each two-page spread consists of an endangered animal, numerical fact, and factoid box about the animal on those pages. As with other books in this series, there is a "For Creative Minds" section in the back that has more information, activities, and concepts. This is a good book for home, school, and public libraries.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for this review.
Arbordale Publishing (previously Sylvan Dell Publishing) has several books that bring educational concepts - particularly math - into the storyline as well as infusing the story with other facts and concepts. In What's the Difference children are introduced to the endangered animal dilemma; and along with this introduction of a scientific fact, subtraction is used as a way to enforce the sheer concept of loss the plight of these endangered animals presents.
Additionally (pun intended), the book is written in rhyme which again reinforces the learning process.
Each two-page spread consists of an endangered animal, numerical fact, and factoid box about the animal on those pages. As with other books in this series, there is a "For Creative Minds" section in the back that has more information, activities, and concepts. This is a good book for home, school, and public libraries.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for this review.
April 4, 2013
Grade Level(s): K-2
* Teaches students subtraction skills
* Introduces endangered animal species to students; can be used during an animal unit in science
* Uses rhyming words (math literacy book)
* As a lesson extension, have students write and illustrate their own short subtraction stories using one or two of the endangered animal species mentioned in the book.
* Teaches students subtraction skills
* Introduces endangered animal species to students; can be used during an animal unit in science
* Uses rhyming words (math literacy book)
* As a lesson extension, have students write and illustrate their own short subtraction stories using one or two of the endangered animal species mentioned in the book.
March 14, 2011
This is a great math literature book to read when discussing subtraction. This book gives small word problems on each page using animals therefore allowing them to read but also uknowingly solve the math problems within the book which increases their math skills.
August 5, 2010
This book combines math and science concepts to show young readers how humans conserve or endanger animal populations.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews