Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 28
 Fun and Beautiful Math Story January 12, 2009
TeacherTime09
I studied abroad in Rajasthan during college, and one of our abroad members studied miniature paintings. When I saw this book, I bought it immediately. The art is gorgeous. The folk tale is clever and can introduce fantastic conversation starters to any classroom. Use it math, social studies, story time, people skills, conflict resolution, etc. I plan to read the first few pages to my class and then challenge them to tell me how many grains of rice she will get by using mathematics. A great daily challenge in literature! + I've never seen it anywhere but on Amazon.com.
Great lessons for any age. January 9, 2009
Loves to Read (Ohio)
I bought this book for my high school students before we studied the exponential function. They loved it! And, since I have four young children, I shared it with them. They loved it, too! Simple story, great illustrations.
ANOTHER WONDERFUL OFFERING FROM DEMI September 13, 2008
D. Blankenship (The Ozarks)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
This wonderful Indian folk tale is brought to life by some wonderful illustrations and art work. Demi is one of the better illustrators, and indeed, writers of children's books active today. I do not know of one book by this author that is not a complete delight to the eye and ear.
This is a story of a "Wise Raja" and how he is tricked by a little girl. This ruler made the decision one day that he must gather all the rice in the land and store it away for future use. He left the poor people of the land in a state of starvation while he feasted at his palace from his over filled store houses. One day some grains of rice fall from the basket being carried to the Raja's home and a little girl gathers them up, but instead of keeping the rice, she returns it to the wise ruler. As a reward, he offers her anything she wants. She asks for one grain of rice. The Raja more or less insists she ask for more, so she tells him she would like one grain of rice, but would like to have it doubled every day for thirty days. The first day, one grain, the second two, the third four, and the fifth eight...and so on until the last day. You do the math. Needless to say at the end of the thirty days, the little girl has all the rice and the Raja has none.
This is an interesting story and an excellent lesson in math, in greed, in giving and in compassion, all wrapped up in one small book. The illustrations consists of full page pictures done in the style of India and is sprinkled with traditional miniature paintings as well. The detail and vivid colors are a feast for the eye.
This book seems to fascinate children. I have noted that they pull it form the shelf and set and read and look at the pictures over and over again. As an adult, I know I see something different each time I read the thing to a class. The children are absolutely amazed when it finally dawns on them what the little girl has done and it makes quite an impact when they realize the power of numbers. This is a great read-a-long book as you can give a mini math lesson and a moral lesson at the same time. I never tire reading it. To be honest, the pictures are worth the price of the book alone.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
 Great book! May 19, 2008
Christine Shivecharan (Florida)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My daughters are 7 and 8 and they love this book. It was a great story and something to keep in our home for a long time.
Reading in high school math May 2, 2008
A. Owens
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I teach high school algebra and found that the addition of children's literature enhances my curriculum. I used this book when we began exponential functions. I read the first part to my students and then had them fill in a chart telling how many grains of rice she received each day for 30 days and ultimately come up with a formula. The book itself is beautiful and even high schoolers enjoyed it. (After the math activity, they asked me to finish the book. :)
Showing reviews 6-10 of 28
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