One is a Pinata: A Book of Numbers by Roseanne Greenfield Thong & Jon Parra

 

Why this book?

This book caught my eye as a fun counting book that also gave me a deeper peek at elements of Mexican, Central American and South American culture. 

The illustrations include lots of different play and celebration scenarios with many details to find and look at. There's so much here to keep a child's interest during a read aloud!

 

My thoughts as a creator:

I studied this book for interesting ways to create rhyme as well as how to move the reader along in a counting concept book. I found it interesting that for some numerals there was an extra rhyming stanza.

My thoughts as an educator:

I’m always looking for fun ways to reinforce concepts like counting. In this book, there is so much to talk about with each page – the activities shown in the illustrations and the fun elements from Mexico, Central America and South America. The glossary at the back is so helpful in giving me more insights and pronunciation tips before a read aloud. I also really love how the numbers are bilingual in English and Spanish. We need more books like this for many different languages!

Ages: 4 - 7

Grades: K - 3

Connections: counting, family, Spanish language, 

Activities:

Art/Math/Culture: Have students help construct a number wall by drawing and colouring numerals to ten. Add words to label the numeral in their home language. This is also a great way to connect with parents by asking them for how to count in their home language. Encourage the children to add pictures of favourite elements of their own cultural celebrations for each numeral.

STEM: Can you build a kite? Provide materials for kite-building (e.g. string, a tissue paper, streamers, sticks) and encourage children to design their own kites. Later, test the kites outside to see if they fly!

Dramatic play: Encourage students to design their own parade! Provide materials to create banners, decorations and even floats!

 

More resources:

Art: Create your own pinata from Fun Family Crafts 

For more about parades, read: Everyone Loves a Parade by Andrea Denish & Guilherme Franco, Astra Young Readers (2020)

Description from the publisher:

One is a rainbow. One is a cake. One is a piñata that's ready to break! In this lively picture book, a companion to the Pura Belpré–honored Green Is a Chile Pepper, children discover a fiesta of numbers in the world around them, all the way from one to ten. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this vibrant book enumerates the joys of counting and the wonders that abound in every child's day!

One is a Pinata: A Book of Numbers by Roseanne Greenfield Thong & Jon Parra was published by Chronicle Books in 2019.

For more wonderful picture books, visit Perfect Picture Book Friday at Susanna Leonard Hill's website.