Thursday, March 3, 2016


Pete   the Cat and His Four Grooving Bottoms

Posted by Nikaurys Grullon


Title: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Author and Illustrator: Eric Litwin & James Dean

Recommended Grade Level: k-2



Common Core Standards addressed:

Math.Content.K.CC.A.1
Count to 100 by ones and by tens.



CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4.b
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.



CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.5
Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.



CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.6
Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.



CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.7
Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.



CCSS.Math.Content.K.MD.A.1
Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.



Summary: In his fourth picture book, Pete the Cat loves (and sings about) the buttons on his yellow shirt, but when they pop off one by one, he doesn’t freak out: “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no! Buttons come and buttons go.” In bold, primary colors, the number of buttons remaining on the shirt appears at left, both as a numeral and written out, and the diminishing buttons are represented in basic equations (3-1=2). Even after all his buttons are gone, Pete takes it as a cue to go surfing.



Rating: ****This is a fun and a colorful book. Children learn subtraction and to deal with loss in a positive way. This book allows children to sing the song of “My buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons” while learning about simple math skills.



Classroom Ideas: This book can be used to teach numbers and operations, the effects of adding and subtracting whole numbers, equations. Encourage math vocabulary such as how many (How many buttons are left on Pete’s shirt?). The teacher can make adaptations supporting children at different levels.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Nikaury,

    As soon as I read the title of the story I thought, I want to read this story. From reading the summary I can definitely say that the books must be entertaining. Children need entertaining books that teach mathematical skills. I like how the book shows the amount of buttons left after they fall off, because it is a helpful visual for Ell's and students with special needs.

    The teacher can hand out a picture of a sweater to every child. This sweater should have velcro and so should the buttons. The kids should be given a chance to attach and detach the buttons. Children will be able to see and count how many buttons are left when one is taken away.

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  2. This looks like a great way to introduce numbers and operations. Since it is very colorful, and everyone loves Pete the Cat, I'm sure the children will be engaged from the very beginning. I also loves Fannis' idea of having the children each have their own sweater and buttons to use while listening to the story.

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  3. Pete the Cat series are definitely my favorite when it comes to teaching anything from numbers, to colors, to good behaviors, etc. Students love to read and sing it out as they read. They get very excited in every reading!

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