Reviews and Endorsements

Armchair Interviews - June 2008

I simply love My Half Day! There that’s the review. It’s that simple. On second thought, there is so much more you should know about My Half Day. The books that came before it are One Odd Day (odd numbers) and My Even Day (even numbers).

My Half Day is a day in the life of a young boy. He wakes up to discover he has a half-head of hair. Wow! His milk is two-thirds gooey paste, there’s a moving van with three-fourths of a ramp, at Camp Fraction four-fifths of the counselors have a special mode of transportation–and it goes on and on. It’s a fun-filled day with fractions!

The illustrations are wild, wacky and quirky, and kids will laugh (as will adults) and want more. As the mother and grandmother of a racially diverse family, I enjoyed seeing an array of racially diverse children.

And just like all of the Sylvan Dell titles, there is a section at the back of the book that helps continue the learning of fractions. And if the reader goes to Sylvan Dell’s web site and click on the book’s cover, there are supplemental learning materials.

Armchair Interviews says: Fun for families to read, but also a great addition to libraries and schools. Teachers, check this out!

Go to review online

The Reading Tub - July 2008

Type of Reading: bedtime story, anytime reading, family reading, playtime reading, learning to read, read aloud book, reluctant reader

Recommended Age: read together: 6 to 10; read yourself: 7 to 10

Age of Child: Read with girl nearly 7 years old.

Little Kid Reaction: Our daughter has been waiting anxiously for this book ever since her class read My Even Day. She laughed her way through the book, pointing out the differences, changes, and otherwise funny things (like camp counselors on skates).

Big Kid Reaction: This is fun to read, and the illustrations offer lots of opportunities for exploring (with or without reading the text). It will take a couple more readings before our child gets past the humor of the story and settles in to its lessons.

Pros: Kids will enjoy this humorous, well-illustrated introduction to fractions.

Cons: None.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow, at least. This is a must have for the elementary school library. For kids who are just learning fractions or are struggling with them, this would be a handy book to have. It's much more fun than flashcards.

Educational Themes: Use this book to help you make fractions relevant for kids. It is easy to take everyday events build math lessons around them. If you aren't naturally inclined toward math (like me), thumb through the pages and get ideas from the illustrations. You can also use the For Creative Minds section.

Go to review online

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database - Aug 2008

It is easy to tell that humor is on the way when the book’s main character wakes up to discover his head of hair is half long and half buzzed! Simple rhyming stanzas add to the fun as the young boy learns fractions in unique ways. A trip to Camp Fraction presents the opportunities for campers to learn about one-sixth, four-fifths, two-sevenths, and other fractions through activities such as archery, boating, and playing soccer with Martians. A trip on a spaceship materializes once the game is over and the tale ends with the young boy relieved to wake up the following day with a whole head of hair. This book successfully fiddles with fractions in a fun, yet educational way and the zany illustrations hold a variety of humor. Utilize the book as a math supplement when teaching fractions, or possibly use it for creative writing and have students come up with original fraction tales. The book is a follow-up to One Odd Day and My Even Day. Both of these are also strong math supplements. - Nancy Attebury

In the Pages - Aug 2008

My Half Day by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed, illustrated by Karen Lee is a great follow up to My Even Day and One Odd Day by Fisher.  See why I love these books???  Math and Science all in picture book format - I LOVE it!!  This book would be great for fractions, measuring, etc.  ~ wonderful math!!!!  AND be sure to go to their website for even more activities that go with the book - they are a wealth of information for teachers!

Go to review online

July 2008

Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed have written another wonderful  book that makes math FUN for children. Everywhere you look in My Half Day there are fractions. The archery targets are divided into two or six pieces. Which one is easier to hit with an arrow? Team uniforms have numbers  2/3, 3/16, and 5/8 on them instead of boring old 2, 7 or 10.

The main character starts his day with half a head of hair. The other half is shaved close. By the end of the book his hair is even again, but the last page of My Half Day is all about clocks and watches.  I have a sneaky suspicion that the authors have a book about telling time on the drawing board.

There are great math games and exercises in the back of the book. My favorite, which shows two pizzas divided into six or eight pieces, asks if the reader would rather have 1/6th or 1/8th of a pizza? I know what my answer is—1/6th for SURE.

Bravo to the authors and illustrator for creating a big, colorful book about a topic that isn’t always so entertaining. -- Carmen Bredeson, Award-winning author of 80 nonfiction books for young readers

YMCA Preschool, Cary, North Carolina - May 2008

Your Even book was gr8t,

Your Odd book was 3illing,

Your Half book was TWICE the fun!