The Smushy Bus - Hardcover

Grade 2-3-Seventy-six children, one school bus in for repairs, one small replacement, and one inventive driver: the numbers add up to a mathematical dilemma waiting for a solution. Enter Mr. Mathers, a driver of amazing confidence and skill who assures students and teachers that all will arrive home in time for supper. The following fantasy adventure presents math basics with most unusual manipulatives (the students) as the man calmly adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides while he slides, stacks, and stuffs the children in-and on top of-a tiny four-seat bus. Helpful hints are given as the various students exit the bus: "Be sure to use the proper steps." "Try to remember everything you carried." "Always keep things lined up." "Always go back and check for anything you may have forgotten." In Murdocca's angled, boldly outlined, and humorous illustrations, children from various ethnic backgrounds fill the vehicle as it bounces around town. A seamlessly integrated and clearly stated math problem with an outrageously creative solution.
Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

K-Gr. 2. When the regular school bus breaks down, Mr. Mathers arrives late in the afternoon to load all 76 kids onto a four-seat bus. With nonchalance, endless goodwill, and some outside-the-seatbelt thinking, he places the children under the seats, on the seats, behind the seats, on shelves above the seats, and down the aisle. Finally, he drapes a line of fifth graders over the roof, calling "Lock elbows with the person next to you." The droll text includes lines such as "He slid 2 kindergartners, toes in first, onto each shelf. They were a bit slippery from crying so they fit in quite easily." The cartoonlike illustrations are bold, black line drawings brightened with cheerful colors. Mr. Mathers counts, subtracts, divides, and performs other mathematical feats as he sets about his job, but he delivers more laughs than lessons. The sly interpolation of math terms adds to the humor and could conceivably relieve math anxiety. Fun for reading aloud, this book could also serve as a memorable reminder about remainders. Carolyn Phelan
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