title: Bean Thirteen
author:  Matthew McElligott 
description: Kindergarten-Grade 3In this humorous introduction to the concept of division, 2 bugs gather 13 beans and try to devise a way to share them evenly. Flora and Ralph think of several scenarios but in the end they still have "bean thirteen" left over. Even inviting their friends for dinner doesn't resolve the problem. Whether they plan on one guest or six, the beans cannot be arranged into equal portions. Then Ralph accidentally knocks the beans to the floor as their company arrives. He places all 13 into one bowl and each guest takes as many as he or she would like to eat. This resolves the problem, but leaves Flora and Ralph wondering who ended up consuming unlucky "bean thirteen." The story's pacing and the dialogue between the two bugs help children analyze the situation and follow the different possible grouping solutions. The large, limalike beans are a great visual aid and are easy to see when the book is read aloud. Done in pen and ink with digital effects, the cartoon illustrations feature bright hues and slightly off-kilter perspectives that will appeal to children. Youngsters will undoubtedly enjoy this funny tale; teachers will truly appreciate the connections it makes to their curriculum and the use of manipulatives in math.<i>Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Title Page
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright Page
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dedication
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Acknowledgements
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 1 - The Ghost of Boyfriends Past
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 2 - Beware of Bars Named After Drunken Birds
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 3 - Does Talking to a Plastic Alligator Mean You’re Crazy?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 4 - La Lechuga y el Tomate
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 5 - Dr. Joe
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 6 - My Good Opinion, Once Lost, Is Probably Lost Forever
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 7 - Hopelessly Attractive Men
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Chapter 8 - Lettuce Is a Simple Vegetable
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Chapter 9 - Just Joe
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Chapter 10 - Badly Done, Grace
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Chapter 11 - The Way to a Man’s Heart Is Through Flan
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Chapter 12 - I’ll Take What’s Behind D