Mouse Count Review By Crystal Gonzalez

Title: Mouse Count

Author: Ellen Stoll Walsh

Illustrator: Ellen Stoll Walsh

Recommended Grade Level: Pre-K

Common Core Mathematics Standard:

Counting and Cardinality PK.CC

·      Know number names and the count sequence:

o   Count to 20.

o   Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0–5 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).

·      Count to tell the number of objects: 3. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities to 10; connect counting to cardinality.

1.     When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.

2.     Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted.

3.     Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.

4.   Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 10 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 5 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–10, count out that many objects.

·      Compare numbers.

5.     Identify whether the number of objects in one group is more, less, greater than, fewer, and/or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.1 (1: up to 5 objects)

6.     Identify “first” and “last” related to order or position.

Operations & Algebraic Thinking PK.OA

·      Understand addition as adding to, and understand subtraction as taking from:

1.  Demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction by using objects, fingers, and responding to practical situations (e.g., If we have 3 apples and add two more, how many apples do we have all together?).

Measurement & Data PK.MD

·      Sort objects and count the number of objects in each category.

2.  Sort objects into categories; count the numbers of objects in each category. 1 (limit category counts to be less than or equal to 10)

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:

CCSSM SMP4 Model with mathematics.

Summary: 

This is a story of ten mice and one greedy snake. The ten mice were always careful to look for snakes while awake in the meadow, but when they grew tired they went to take a nap and forgot all about it. Eventually, a snake captures each of them, little by little. See, the snake was never satisfied with the amount of mice in his jar for dinner and he was always looking for more to eat. However, the ten mice are very clever and outwit the snake by planning an escape! This is a suspenseful story that will keep young readers guessing.

Rating: *****

I personally enjoyed this book as an adult but kids will enjoy it even more. The pictures were simple, but colorful which keeps a child’s attention. It was easy to see, and count, how many mice were in the jar on each page. This is a great story that just so happened to include counting too. Throughout the story the author crafts different ways to present the concept of counting. This book would be a fun book to read aloud with pre-school age children.

Classroom Ideas: 

This book could be used with several mathematical topics including counting (+,-), more or less, and how many now? You can use small manipulatives to count and practice writing numerals. A jar or felt board consisting of all the characters in the book is a fun and interactive way for children to reenact what is happening in the story, while also assisting them visually to see the amount of mice increasing and decreasing.