Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin

Charlesbridge Math Adventures

by Pam Calvert, Wayne Geehan (Illustrator)

Readers will put their multiplication skills to use in this clever math adaptation starring the fairy-tale favorite, Rumpelstiltskin. 

It's been 10 years since the queen defeated Rumpelstiltskin and now he's back to collect his payment from years before. He causes a stir in the kingdom by making mischief with his multiplying stick and threatens to do far worse if the debt is not repaid.  It's up to Peter, the young prince, to take possession of the Rumpelstiltskin’s magical multiplying stick and learn how to use it—and multiply both whole numbers and fractions-- in order to restore peace to the kingdom. A perfect mix of math, fairy-tale, and fun, The Multiplying Menace will get STEM/STEAM readers excited to solve the adventure one number at a time.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Childrens, Multiplication, Fairy Tales, Arithmetic, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

I'm a children's author--have six picture books and some easy readers. More picture books on the way! My newest picture book is BRIANNA BRIGHT BALLERINA KNIGHT!

Reviews

[L11_Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a continuation of the King and Queen's life 10 years later and their son Peter is the main character. Rumpelstiltskin seeks revenge and returns to the castle to steal Peter and cause mayhem among the castle and the village. Rumpelstiltskin multiplies the king's nose by 6 and 4 branches by 10 (making 40 branches) etc. Peter is put to work by Rumpelstiltskin and does many chores. When Rumpelstiltskin falls asleep, Peter takes Rumpelstiltskin's magic stick and escapes. He figures out how to use the stick and returns to the castle and village to restore life as he knew it. When Rumpelstiltskin awakes and returns to the castle to find Peter, Peter multiplies him by zero which makes Rumpelstiltskin vanish. Of course, everyone lives happily ever after.

I like this book because it lends itself to use in the classroom. Reading the original fairy tale and then having the students write their own story of what happens 10 years later, and then reading this story and making comparisons. It allows students to use their creativity, and then increases their interest in the story as it's read.

Also, since this story uses multiplication throughout, there are many stopping points that can be used to determine the answer to what Rumpelstiltskin or Peter may have multiplied. I can see using this with my gifted students and have them write the equations out as they read. Some of the equations require multiplying by fractions, which is advanced for 3rd grade.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This "math adventure" concept picture book picks up where the original story of Rumpelstiltskin leaves off (minus him ripping himself in two) ten years into the future. It is Peter's 10th birthday, the boy Rumpelstiltskin had been promised before the queen guessed his name. This time, Rumpelstiltskin demands that the boy come with him or he will continue to wreak havoc on the village. Eager to help return his town to normal, Peter agrees to go with Rumpelstiltskin. Peter discovers Rumpelstiltskin's magic cane which has the ability to multiply! This cleverly constructed story may not be the highest quality literature, but the story is engaging and the math concepts are clearly presented. Because it explores multiplication of whole numbers and fractions, it is appropriate for middle to late elementary students, grades 2-5.

[Ali Hembree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use with grades 3-5th when talking about multiplication.It allows the kids to see the effect of multiplying whole numbers opposed to fractions.

Rumpelstiltskin comes back to claim the queen's sun on his tenth birthday. He puts a multiplying curse on the kingdom and even multiplies the king's nose by 6, giving him 6 noses. The queen's son finally breaks the curse by getting a hold of the magic stick and multiplying everything with small numbers (fractions) so the kingdom goes back to normal.

[Jane]

Fractions

based on folktale

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stick that can multiply by fractions and whole numbers to teach kids math with a fairy tale character story.

[Pumpkin+Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the category of "Trope Invented to Enliven and Contextualize Math," Multiplying Menace is excellent. It's a picture book, so it's easy to get through; the story is engaging, so it appeals to my six-year-old; and it has a plot with enough action and complications to also engage my eight-year-old.

In a lot of living books, the academic topic is just tacked on, but the idea of multiplication is here integral to the plot--you can't understand what's going on without taking the time to wrap your head around multiplication, and if you understand what's going on, you understand multiplication!

There are a lot of methods for understanding multiplication--arrays, repeated addition, groupings, etc.--so it's helpful to explore it in a wide variety of ways. The approach in Multiplying Menace is unusual, so it's less likely to directly correspond to a hands-on lesson, but for overall contextualization and achieving a greater understanding of the concept, it's a valuable resource.

[CH_Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Multiplying Menace the Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin is a wonderful book to use when teaching students multiplication with fractions and whole numbers. This book is a sequel to the traditional folktale of Rumpelstiltskin. Rumpelstiltskin comes back to take the Queen's son on his tenth birthday. During this time Rumpelstiltskin causes quite a stir in the town including giving the king 6 noses. The Queen's son soon figures out how to utilize Rumpelstiltskin's magic stick and learns how to fix everything Rumpelstiltskin ruined, but while learning to use the stick he learns that multiplying by fractions makes less. I thought this was a clever book that had an interesting storyline while teaching students in a fun way how to multiply.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story that teaches about multiplication by whole numbers as well as fractions. It is an After Happily Ever After-type of story, where we rejoin the characters from a classic fairytale after some time has passed. In this tale, Rumpelstiltskin returns to claim what he is owed.

The story is entertaining and I thought it was a novel way to teach about what fractions do to numbers when multiplying. The math wasn't terribly difficult and our girls enjoyed solving the problems, too. We really enjoyed reading this story together. I love it when we find a story that is both educational and entertaining!

[Sylvia Ulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will definitely come back to use this book when we begin to cover CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.4 - Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole number by a fraction.

I think it's great in that it gives a picture reference for big ideas like the fact that multiplying a whole number by a fraction results in a smaller number, and multiplication by 0 always equals 0. The story is humorous and imaginative, with a clear conflict and resolution in the end (which sometimes isn't found in didactic math literature). I think it appropriate for the 5th grade age group as well.

UPDATE: Today, we read it to introduce the unit on multiplying & dividing fractions - they loved it!

[Aaron Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book that would be good for first through third grade students to learn multiplication facts. In this story Rumpelstiltskin uses multiplication to reach havoc on the inhabitants of a village. A young boy named Peter steals Rumpelstiltskin's stick and begins repairing everything that Rumpelstiltskin did to mess up The town. In the end, Peter multiplies Rumpelstiltskin by zero, making him disappear forever. This is a fun way to show children different usage for multiplication facts. After reading the story you could ask your students to take an existing fairytale and add multiplication math facts into the story in the same way that they were used in this one.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best for kids ages 8 and up
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Vocabulary, Narrative Skills

From cover:
Rimpelstiltskin is back!
Ten years ago, the Queen guessed his name. That stopped Rumpelstiltskin from taking her first born child. Now Rumpelstiltskin has returned, and he wants revenge. Overnight, strange things happen across the kingdom. Mice, bugs, and other pests multiply in great numbers. Cows and other farm animals disappear. Peter is the kingdom's only hope , but is he clever enough to stop the multiplying menace!

Great math story about multiplication, but the illustrations may distract some readers.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin, teaches students how to solve multiplication and fraction word problems. This story is set in a kingdom and Rumpelstiltskin’s house where he takes the young boy Peter but before the Rumpelstiltskin terrorizes the town with multiplication. Peter escapes and fixes the town with fractions. This book could be read to students before a multiplication, fraction, or world problem lesson in math. Students could solve the problems from the book as the teacher is reading the story.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades 2-4
Rumplestiltskin is back to claim the princesses’ son—only this time he has a puzzle that confounds everyone.
--magic stick that he points
--noses times six (king gets 6 noses)
--stones times 1/3 (stones disappear)
--boy grabs the stick and uses multiplication to save the day.
--Great intro for multiplying whole numbers and fractions.
--Students could use their own magic sticks in the classroom as an extension

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiplying Menace by Pam Calvert does a great job in telling the story of Rumpelstitskin's revenge by also incorporating mathematical concepts. This book can be used to teach students about multiplication facts and also teaches them to compare multiplying by whole numbers as opposed to fractions. This is a fun way to show children different usage for multiplication facts. I would use this book for students in 3rd-4th grade.

[Frank Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the author combined math instruction with a story a majority of students will be familiar. Multiplication is the primary math operation emphasized in the book. Multiplication via character interaction in an effective strategy to instruct young students. I also like how the story and math instruction are cohesive together. Overall, an ideal book for teaching multiplication to students starting to learn math.

[Mimi]

This book includes popular fairy tale character Rumpelstilskin, as he tricks a 10 year old boy and his family and friends by using a magic multiplication stick. I would use this with upper grade levels because the concepts in the book can be hard to grasp. Some solid knowledge and understanding of multiplication is needed for this story to make sense and be fully beneficial for students. I would read this at the end of a unit on multiplication instead of at the beginning.

[Mallory White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun interactive story that can be used as a large group read aloud. This book is based off the original story of Rumpelstiltskin and is a intriguing story for your students. This story teaches about whole number multiplication as well as fractions! It also talks about what fractions can do to numbers when you multiply them together. Great for introducing fractions in a easy and relaxed large group.

[Megan Piero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story incorporates multiplication into a story that many children will already know and love. I would use this story for children who have already learned the concept of multiplication but need some more practice. The teacher could have students follow along with the story in a circle, and have students come up and do the multiplication work on the smart board while they are reading the story. The teacher could turn it into a game, where they will not read on until the problem is solved.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about Rumpelstiltskin getting revenge on the people in the village, but it also teaches about multiplication. Rumplestiltskin says things like nose times 6, and the king then had 6 noses appear on his face. The book goes through a different multiplication problem on each page in a fun way that would engage students.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use to teach multiplication, especially to introduce multiplying by fractions. Students might not know what will happen if you haven't taught that concept yet, so it would be interesting to get their predictions. Once the story is read, have a class discussion on what happens when you multiply by fractions.

[Sarah Ziskend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiplication of whole numbers and fractions


Good book with organic and natural use of math. Would be very engaging for young kids (3-5). Ends in a cute rhyme to help remembering multiplication rules.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story with Rumpelstiltskin who returns in this book with a magic multiplying stick and wreaks havoc on the town and community. This is a great book that helps children understand multiplication of whole numbers and fractions.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love this one! We have read it many times. 10/8/15

Ellie always ask for this book! There is something about Rumpelstiltskin that intrigues her. There is another Rumpel book she often reads as well...krb 8/9/17

[Debbie Mcclure]

cute story incorporating multiplying by whole numbers and fractions

[Megan Skyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book to use to continue multiplication. In this book it shows how to multiply fractions as well as whole numbers.

[Andrew Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great to read to 3rd-5th grade students before introducing multiplication. The story also compares the difference between multiplying by whole numbers and fractions.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! My heart melted as I turned the pages, we need more math books like this.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book. Good for working on multiplying whole numbers and fractions, through a fun story. A sequel to Rumpelstiltskin.

[Karen Dransfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting mathematics story about multiplying numbers. And takes the Rumpelstiltskin story and twists it around a bit.

[Allison Rohe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young prince named Peter. On Peter’s birthday, Rumpelstiltskin uses a multiplying stick to wreak havoc on the kingdom. Peter steals the walking stick from Rumpelstiltskin and decides to use the stick to reverse everything that Rumpelstiltskin has done. At the end of the story, Rumpelstiltskin confronts Peter, so Peter decides to use the walking stick to try and multiply Rumpelstiltskin. Peter fails to multiply Rumpelstiltskin two times. On the third try, Peter can multiply Rumpelstiltskin by zero and make him disappear. I think that this book is great for teaching young children about multiplication. I love that it shows children not to give up if they get an answer wrong. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.