Alison FormentoReseñas

Bees count in so many ways! The author creatively integrates math, science, and social studies concepts to help inform the reader about the essential role that bees play in our global food supply. Informational Note.

Synopsis: This book tells the story of Mr. Tate's students as they help clean up a local beach and learn about all the creatures in the sea. One whale, two giant sea turtles, three marlins. . . and more. This story explores the environmental impact and importance of the seas, and how crucial it is to keep them healthy. Ages 5 - 6 years.

Response: The premise of this story is lovely, and it should work to illustrate for children just how important it is to keep our beaches and oceans clean. However, the wind up to the counting seems to take too long and be a bit preachy and labored. Some younger children may struggle to engage with the beginning and end but will enjoy the counting. This book could be a nice crossover tool for incorporating math concepts into an environmental science unit.

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I would use this book in synthesizing. Children will have predictions about what the title means and then discover the book is about the importance of keeping the beach clean.

Teacher Mr. Tate takes his class out to a local beach to clean, and they learn of the importance of the creatures that live here and realize how we can preserve our environment.

The hidden message about our open waters made this book perfect for synthesizing. Expanding our knowledge on the ocean, who's lives in it, and how we can keep it safe. The art work is connectable to the children for themselves in. I would use this for Kindergarten.

With a hidden message about our open waters I really enjoyed this book for synthesizing. Expanding our knowledge on the ocean, who's lives in it, and how we can keep it safe. The art work is very sweet and relatable to the children to see themselves in. Kinder to 1st grade.

Mr. Tate's class helps clean up a local beach and listens to the sea as it tells them about all the wildlife that make it their home. One whale, two giant sea turtles, three marlins. . . and more. Of course, the class discovers that "this sea counts!" These Seas Count! explores the environmental impact and importance of the seas, and how crucial it is to keep them healthy.

Lots of possible questions for this book. What do you think they are counting in this book? How can they count the objects?

Themes: Trees, Habitats, Nature, Animals, Wood Products, Counting.

Teaching Points: You could have students re-create pieces of this book with their own illustrations and words, just using the patterns of the text. Different groups work on different pieces to create a class book.

This book is about a class who takes a field trip to go on a hike and look for rocks. One of the girl students thinks that rocks are boring and is not interested in the field trip or rocks. The hike leader and guide quickly change her mind as very interesting rocks and geode are found along the way. The girl student quickly learns that rocks are used for many things; artist to sculpt, concrete, cell phones, airplanes etc. At the end of the book, the girl thinks rocks are very cool and is excited about hiking and finding rocks.

I would use this book as a precursor to a rock study unit. This book highlights some fun and interested facts on rocks. A great book for K-3 definitely. Using this book might also be helpful in helping a student who is not excited about the unit, to get excited.

The notions of this book alone is fascinating. Children love trees they admire how tall they are and how their leaves change with the season. However, we rarely think about all the different ways trees deliver life into other living creatures including us.

This clever book uses an ecosystem to teach counting and a sense of environmental stewardship.

This is a great book about counting. It uses all of the creatures of the ecosystem of an oak tree as the things to count. In addtion to counting this book could lead into a much larger discussion about the lives tree sustain.

The book's title has a double meaning in that the tree counts the number of species living in the tree, but also matters in the environmental sense. In addition to the counting practice, it is a simple way to teach children a basic ecosystem lesson - how important one tree can be.

rocks vaguely presented½

This is a great counting book. Their is a school class planting trees with their teacher. Their teacher encourages them to listen to the giant tree's story. The giant tree shares what animals live in his branches. The story starts with one owl and ends with ten earthworms. After listening to the tree's counting the class talks about different trees and their uses and then what products they own made from wood.

Summary: In this book a tree tells students what it sees. The teacher uses this time to explore why trees are important.
Review: When the student says, "This tree counts" it has two meanings. Along with a focus on counting, this book highlights the importance and wonder of nature. I would read this book to a class before going outdoors; then have them create their own 1 to 10 lists of what they find. The pictures in this book reflect what you see outdoors; they reminded me of a pleasurable day outside.

This book is so cute. It is a great way to get children to learn to count. Anything that involve animals and nature is usually a sure fire way to get children to pay attention. The illustrations are sweet and they are accurate. I like that they can put their finger on the page and count the items.

Grades K-2

Mr. Tate's class, originally introduced in This Tree Counts (2010), is back. This time, they're taking a field trip to Busy Bee Farm, where Farmer Ellen introduces them to the world of beekeeping. As they tour the farm and dress in protective suits to get close to the apiaries, Farmer Ellen explains how beneficial bees are as they pollenate a wide variety of plants and crops. She also encourages the multi-ethnic group of children to really watch the bees and listen carefully, and as the children listen, they hear counting within the buzz of the bees-- TWO waving dandelions, THREE wild strawberries, FOUR apple blossoms, etc. The counting is rather incongruous with the rest of the story, but it does broaden the book's appeal to both teachers looking for number books and teachers wanting to supplement a science lesson. The author's note at the end is probably too detailed for the younger audiences towards whom the book seems to be aimed, but it gives teachers and parents abundant information about bees (including the recent outbreaks of colony collapse disorder) that they can share with students. Overall, an engaging introduction to the importance of honeybees, with a little counting thrown in for good measure.

This book is so clever right from the very title! I love how the author incorporates the importance of trees with learning to count. What a brilliant idea! The illustrations are really bright and colorful, which also help engage the reader. An excellent book to help children learn how to count.

This counting book is fun and stays interesting when a new creature is introduced.

mish-mash of counting/science book. I wish it was one OR the other.

An enjoyable and educational number book that discusses the importance of trees and conseration. I really enjoyed the artwork of this picture book and liked the lesson taught to children about listening and respecting nature.

A very important book, not only do these trees "count" but they count, they are incredibly important! Good example of conservation and helping the environment for young kids, great message