A Million Dots
Grade 1-4–Enormous numbers are often difficult for children to conceptualize, but Clements makes the process enjoyable. The book begins and ends with a single dot. In between, readers not only view the other 999,998, but also pick up some fascinating tidbits of information. Each page features an array of dots arranged in a rectangular shape with an illustration superimposed on top, all set against a warm-hued background. One or two boxed facts help readers visualize particular amounts, and the spreads have arrows pointing out how many dots have been presented so far. The examples bring the concept home while reflecting kids' interests: There are 525,600 minutes from one birthday to the next one or To eat 675,000 Hershey's bars, you would have to eat one bar every two minutes, nonstop, for more than 234 days! Reed's humorous and eye-catching digital artwork adds to the appeal. The phrase It's 238,857 miles from the Earth to the moon is illustrated with a cow in space gear making its famous jump, while the fact that an arctic tern will fly more than 650,000 miles in its lifetime shows a camera-toting bird complete with Panama hat, suitcases, and passport clutched in wing. Pair this imaginative title with David M. Schwartz's classicHow Much Is a Million?(HarperCollins, 1985) for a tremendous math lesson.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.