Pie Graphs: (Making Graphs)

How do you show numbers with a circle? Easy as pie! Have fun making and using pie graphs to compare amounts.

Review :
Brightly colored photographs carefully matched with simple and direct text facilitate children's mathematical thinking and comprehension. Brief chapters entitled "Circle are Wholes," "Making a Pie Graph," "Favorite Foods," "Spending Time and Money," and "How You Spend Your Day" define and demonstrate how pie graphs are made and illustrate the forms that such graphs can take. For example, a series of photographs illustrates that pie graphs "show how parts compare to the whole," and that a pie graph can compare the number of girls and boys on a jump rope team. "The key shows pink for girls and blue for boys. Half the circle is pink. Half the circle is blue." The pie graph concept is reinforced with further examples that compare which kind of pizza is the favorite, the amount of time spent in and out of school in a week, and how much time in a week is spent on different activities. Other features integral to the book's design include a table of contents, glossary, a list of further readings, internet sites, and an index. Teachers can use this book as a read aloud in primary classrooms and for early readers' independent reading. This nonfiction picture book is part of the "Making Graphs Series," which introduces young readers to graphing concepts.-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database" Designed to introduce children to graphs and their use, this series has many photographs and drawings intended to clarify a concept. . . .these books are a good introduction to graphing.-- "Teaching Children Mathematics, NCTM" It's hard to find books that effectively explain math concepts for young children; this crystal clear entry in the Making Graphs series does just that. The book sensibly opens with an episode involving slices of strawberry pie, then points out that "pie graphs are not just for pies." The examples, eight in all, stay close to children's immediate concerns (a group's pizza-topping preferences; the distribution of flavors in a jelly-bean package) and then show how a circle can be divided and shaded to express the information. A big strength of this title are the pictures, primarily professional photographs of children in scenes set up to closely match the text. Part of the publisher's A+ line of "read-aloud concept books," the book has oversize dimensions and large, clear type that will work well for sharing with groups. Teachers will have no trouble finding ways to use the scenarios here to lead into classroom discussions and activities about this key curriculum topic.-- "Booklist" Through easy-to-read wording the concept of pie graphs is introduced with engaging photographs of a real pie. A simple glossary, read more, Internet sites, and an index round out this title. The Making Graphs series also includes Bar Graphs, Pictographs, and Tally Charts."-- "Teacher Librarian" With this book, creating and interpreting pie graphs can be a piece of cake! Bright photos, straightforward information, kid-appealing data, and an uncomplicated design help students learn the essential skill of graphing.-- "Learning Magazine"