by Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill
Illustrations by To Ngoc Trang
copyright 2003
Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco
Lexile or ATOS levels: undetermined (not enough text to measure)
Interest level: K-2
Description
This math picture book follows a familiar counting book format which can be enjoyed on many levels. It's Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, and 10 mice are getting ready to celebrate. On each colorful 2-page spread, a growing number of mice make the preparations: 1 plans the party, 2 go to market, all the way to 10 watching the fireworks. The illustrations appear to be photographs of embroidered village and family scenes. The costumed mice are large enough to be easily counted by readers (and listeners). Simple sentences use numbers instead of number words ("2", not "two") making parts of the text accessible to even the youngest readers. There are explanations about Tet at the end of the book which a teacher will read beforehand in order to explain the unfamiliar, but students will be able to figure out the mice's preparations through the detailed art. After a read-aloud, students can use this book independently, counting the mice, reading the numbers and one-syllable words, and retelling the story of this holiday.
Qualitative Analysis
Structure
- This book has the familiar format of a counting book, with each turn of the page increasing the number of mice and the number written on the page.
- Although this book is about a Vietnamese holiday, the language is familiar: "1 mouse plans a party..., 6 mice open presents, etc." The simple sequential counting format is appropriate for the K-2 audience. Numbers instead of number words - in different size and color font - make it easy to read the numbers.
- Listeners will easily understand mice getting ready for a party, especially if they are familiar with new year celebrations. The teacher may want to explain some of the Vietnamese customs, which are provided in the back of the book.
Levels of Meaning or Purpose
- This book may be understood on two different levels: as a counting book and as a book about the holiday traditions of the Vietnamese.
Text Complexity
Curriculum Connections (Math)
After a read-aloud where basic counting skills, as well as cultural themes, are emphasized, Ten Mice for Tet can be a springboard for other math activities. For example, a math center may have manipulatives which students count out to match the number on each page of the book. The book may be displayed on a desk with the challenge to count how many mice are in the whole book, each student writing the number on a poster for checking later (after everyone has had a chance to count). A teacher-led challenge would be for students to determine which activity has more mice (where are there more mice? watching fireworks or going to market?). Students could also independently open the book to any page, read the number, and count up to ten from that number, maybe even recording themselves with an iPad as they recite the numbers.
Related Resources
A mother's blog post about celebrating Tet in her son's class, with lots of links and ideas
https://myasiankiddc.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/lunar-chinese-new-year-tet-kindergarten-first-grade-lesson-plan/
Pinterest board on Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tet with many classroom activities
https://www.pinterest.com/trish9/chinese-new-year-vietnamese-tet/
Standards (examples for Kindergarten)
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.1
Count to 100 by ones and by tens.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.2
Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4
Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.C.6
Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Final Thoughts
Used in the primary grades, Ten Mice for Tet can be an anchor book for many connected areas of study throughout the year. From counting and writing numbers in the fall, to reading about holiday celebrations in the winter, to comparing stories about mice in the spring, there's a lot of content to explore with this beautifully illustrated book.
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