Kid Math: How is Spaghetti and Meatballs a math story?

Spaghetti And Meatballs For All! (Scholastic Bookshelf: Math Skills) by Marilyn Burns was on the shelf at the library in the math section.  In case you haven't taken time to look in the library with the "adult" books.  There are tons of books on how to teach your kids things and neat educational kids books that you can read them.  This mathematical story was all about having 32 family members over for a spaghetti and meatball dinner!!

This fast based book includes Mrs. Comfort invites her family to dinner and then Mr. and Mrs. Comfort setting the tables for their 32 guests.  The guests come and move all the tables so that there aren't enough seats which really upset Mrs. Comfort.  Each time more guests come, they have to rearrange the tables (more upset Mrs. Comfort) and in the end, they end up in the same arrangement as they started. 

I think that it might have been a little much for my four year old to get the multiplication and division happening quickly in the book but he thought it was amusing.  The large number of characters in the story is a little confusing but as long as you don't focus on the names and just the rhythm of the book, it is really fun. 

We also counted the tables and chairs in the back of the book to see how else the tables could be arranged to fit the family.  He then counted our table and chairs to figure out how many people would fit at our table.  I think that this is one of those books that would be really good to read once a year and see how the kids reaction changes to it as they get older and understand the differences in the math.  Always good to introduce your kids to ideas that are a little beyond them because they strive to learn (as well as I think that they understand more then we give them credit for).  I hope that you check it out for your little ones and see what you think!!