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MathStart: Level 3 #13
Less Than Zero
“Kids, young and old, fall in love with math when they see how real-life and effortless it becomes thanks to these books.” —Kimberly D. Mueller, Ed.D., First Grade Teacher, Ashbrook School, Lumberton NJ Less Than Zero is perfect for teaching negative numbers to second, third, and fourth graders. Perry the Penguin needs 9 clams to buy an ice scooter—but he's not very good at saving. As Perry earns, spends, finds, loses, and borrows clams, a simple line graph demonstrates the concept of negative numbers. Kids will love the story and the illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz. Parents and educators will love how the story and pictures make understanding the math concepts a breeze—as well as the concrete examples of how math works. The book contains activities for adults to do with kids to extend math into their own lives. Math skills are life skills, and the MathStart series supports success! MathStart's unique combination of stories, illustrations, and visual models helps teachers and parents in the teaching of math and provides all children with the opportunity to succeed. The math concepts taught in MathStart books conform to state and national standards. Level 1 is Pre-K–Kindergarten; Level 2 is Grades 1–3; Level 3 is Grades 2–4. The series follows math topics across grades so there is a foundational path to learning that runs through the levels. Help kids with their math skills plus their reading skills with the engaging and fun MathStart series!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Stuart J. Murphy
195 books60 followersPICTURES & WORDS, STORIES & BOOKS
MathStart http://www.mathstart.net
I See I Learn http://www.iseeilearn.com
I was one of those kids who talked all the time in class. I loved telling stories. One day in the 4th Grade, my teacher said, “You tell such good stories, maybe you should try writing some of them down.” “Wow,” I thought. “She thinks my stories are good.” That’s when I started to really enjoy writing.
I was also the class artist. When I wasn’t talking,I was drawing. When I was older, I studied art at the Rhode Island School
of Design. That’s where I became interested in visual learning—how we decode and acquire information from graphs, charts, diagrams, models, illustrations and other images.
I became especially interested in educational publishing and have worked on the development of over a dozen major textbook programs, championing visual learning strategies from Pre-K through high school in every major curriculum area.
MATHSTART
The inspiration to write math stories for children was sparked by my work on a high school mathematics program. Visual learning strategies helped teens—who had been characterized as “reluctant learners’—understand difficult math concepts. Putting math in the context of stories based on their experiences made them feel more comfortable with abstract concepts. They actually became eager to apply math to real-life problems.
If this approach worked for older students, I began to wonder what might happen if younger children were introduced to math this way!

Even before children can read—or speak many words—they can interpret visual information with ease. The MathStart books use simple stories coupled with diagrams, graphs and other visual models to teach everything from probability and pattern recognition to area, capacity and negative numbers.
The Best Bug Parade, (comparing sizes) was my very first published book. It was absolutely thrilling to see my name in print! I never expected that one day there would 63 MathStart books, split over three levels for ages Pre-K to Grade 4.
Each book includes two pages of review and activities designed to help teachers and parents extend learning beyond the story, along with suggestions of related books by other authors. After all, if a child enjoys learning math through stories, then let’s have more stories!
(Pictures, Words & Math: An interview with Stuart J. Murphy )
THE MAIN STREET KIDS' CLUB: A MATHSTART MUSICAL
Now get out your dancing shoes—there is a musical based on six of the MathStart books! The Main Street Kids’ Club was workshopped at Northwestern University and adapted by Scott Ferguson, who also created the perennially popular production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!
The songs are terrific. The math is spot on. And the club motto makes my heart sing: “Math Skills are Life Skills!”
STUART J. MURPHY'S I SEE I LEARN
My latest series of books is focused on young children—Preschool and Kindergarten age.
I See I Learn books teach social, emotional, health and safety, and cognitive skills, such as how to make friends, build confidence, play safely, work together, manage emotions, and make plans. These skills are important for school readiness and for living happy, healthy, productive lives.

The stories “star” a wonderful bunch of friends who live in See-and-Learn City and attend Ready Set Pre-K. The cast includes Freda, Percy, Emma, Ajay, Camille, and Carlos. And, of course, Pickle, the green bull dog—who happens to have a soft-spot for butterflies—and Miss Cathy, their teacher.
I See I Learn stories are modeled on real-life situations and, just as in real-life, often involve more than one skill. For example, Freda Plans a Picnic is about sequencing, a cognitive skill, but the picnic itself is a social event. Percy Plays It Safe focuses on playground safety skills, but playing successfully in a group also requires self-regulation, an emotional skill.
Each book is reviewed by a tea
MathStart http://www.mathstart.net
I See I Learn http://www.iseeilearn.com
I was one of those kids who talked all the time in class. I loved telling stories. One day in the 4th Grade, my teacher said, “You tell such good stories, maybe you should try writing some of them down.” “Wow,” I thought. “She thinks my stories are good.” That’s when I started to really enjoy writing.
I was also the class artist. When I wasn’t talking,I was drawing. When I was older, I studied art at the Rhode Island School
of Design. That’s where I became interested in visual learning—how we decode and acquire information from graphs, charts, diagrams, models, illustrations and other images.
I became especially interested in educational publishing and have worked on the development of over a dozen major textbook programs, championing visual learning strategies from Pre-K through high school in every major curriculum area.
MATHSTART
The inspiration to write math stories for children was sparked by my work on a high school mathematics program. Visual learning strategies helped teens—who had been characterized as “reluctant learners’—understand difficult math concepts. Putting math in the context of stories based on their experiences made them feel more comfortable with abstract concepts. They actually became eager to apply math to real-life problems.
If this approach worked for older students, I began to wonder what might happen if younger children were introduced to math this way!

Even before children can read—or speak many words—they can interpret visual information with ease. The MathStart books use simple stories coupled with diagrams, graphs and other visual models to teach everything from probability and pattern recognition to area, capacity and negative numbers.
The Best Bug Parade, (comparing sizes) was my very first published book. It was absolutely thrilling to see my name in print! I never expected that one day there would 63 MathStart books, split over three levels for ages Pre-K to Grade 4.
Each book includes two pages of review and activities designed to help teachers and parents extend learning beyond the story, along with suggestions of related books by other authors. After all, if a child enjoys learning math through stories, then let’s have more stories!
(Pictures, Words & Math: An interview with Stuart J. Murphy )
THE MAIN STREET KIDS' CLUB: A MATHSTART MUSICAL
Now get out your dancing shoes—there is a musical based on six of the MathStart books! The Main Street Kids’ Club was workshopped at Northwestern University and adapted by Scott Ferguson, who also created the perennially popular production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!
The songs are terrific. The math is spot on. And the club motto makes my heart sing: “Math Skills are Life Skills!”
STUART J. MURPHY'S I SEE I LEARN
My latest series of books is focused on young children—Preschool and Kindergarten age.
I See I Learn books teach social, emotional, health and safety, and cognitive skills, such as how to make friends, build confidence, play safely, work together, manage emotions, and make plans. These skills are important for school readiness and for living happy, healthy, productive lives.

The stories “star” a wonderful bunch of friends who live in See-and-Learn City and attend Ready Set Pre-K. The cast includes Freda, Percy, Emma, Ajay, Camille, and Carlos. And, of course, Pickle, the green bull dog—who happens to have a soft-spot for butterflies—and Miss Cathy, their teacher.
I See I Learn stories are modeled on real-life situations and, just as in real-life, often involve more than one skill. For example, Freda Plans a Picnic is about sequencing, a cognitive skill, but the picnic itself is a social event. Percy Plays It Safe focuses on playground safety skills, but playing successfully in a group also requires self-regulation, an emotional skill.
Each book is reviewed by a tea
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 26, 2012
I thought this was an excellent book. It teaches the math concept of negative numbers, but at the same time teaches about earning money for the things that we want to buy, fiscal responsibility and the consequences of making bad choices. I love reading books like this to our girls. If they can learn these lessons now, they could possibly save themselves from a lifetime of crushing credit card debt and bad money management. I won't go so far as to say that this book does it all, but it is a very entertaining and informative story.
We've been reading lots of different books in the various MathStart series by Stuart J. Murphy. This book is in the MathStart Level 3 series and introduces the concept of negative numbers to children in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
The story is entertaining and the illustrations are colorful and fun. We recognize the style of Frank Remkiewicz from his collaborations with Jonathan London on the Froggy series. We really enjoyed reading this story together and we will certainly look for more of the MathStart books at our local library.
We've been reading lots of different books in the various MathStart series by Stuart J. Murphy. This book is in the MathStart Level 3 series and introduces the concept of negative numbers to children in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
The story is entertaining and the illustrations are colorful and fun. We recognize the style of Frank Remkiewicz from his collaborations with Jonathan London on the Froggy series. We really enjoyed reading this story together and we will certainly look for more of the MathStart books at our local library.
June 6, 2011
This book could be used with third or fourth graders to introduce how to use money, how you can have less than zero and also how you can use bar graphs to track data. I could see using this book and allowing students to try a project like this on their own as they investigate how you can save money and also how you can have negative or less than zero as you spend or use what you don't have. I think this book would be fun to use to scaffold into a class project where students get to try this on their own.
March 1, 2017
Perry the penguin learns about negative numbers in this informational book. Perry realizes that all his friends have an ice scooter but him. His father says he needs 9 clams before he is able to purchase his scooter. After earning four clams from his mother for trimming ice, Fuzzy asks him if he wants to go to the Ice circus. Only he needs five clams so Fuzzy lets him borrow one. To keep track of his clams he graphs the number he has or loses everyday. However, Perry isn’t having a very easy time learning the concept about how to save. He earns clams, he spends clams, he barrows clams, and he loses clams. After trial and error, Perry learns that burrowing clams is only hurting his goal and won’t help him get his ice scooter any faster.
I didn’t even realize till I started doing my good reads, that majority of the picture books I have borrowed feature animals as characters. I think the illustrations are always more interesting and the story lines are more imaginative. Your mom also had very good things to say about it, which made me want to read it more.
Style: The writing style is informative yet simple. The choice of words flow smoothly from page to page. The author included fluff words to make it more positive and kid friendly. For example on page 20, “Perry started a clam search. He looked everywhere - behind the rewarmerator, over the cooling oven, even the big ice chest.” I also liked how the author used clams as a symbol for money throughout the book, or how the fishy treat truck was supposed to be comparable to our ice cream truck. Murphy incorporated symbols throughout the book making it relatable.
Theme: The author did a wonderful job incorporating a lesson within the text. In less than Zero the math concept is negative numbers. The slow introduction of negative numbers can help in the development of algebraic concepts. This is visible when Perry made the graph and ‘counted up 4 lines and made another big dot on the 9 line. He connected the dot. I need 4 more clams to buy the scooter.” He does this repeatedly through the book, showing reputation to the readers. The author did this to help the young readers comprehend the process of negative numbers
Color: The color palate used in the illustrations are very bright and happy. They create a mood of inviting and calmness. The sky in the background while they are playing on the ice is orange and red, the graph that Perry uses is yellow, resembling happiness. I also noticed the fishy treat truck was yellow and green which both mean cheerfulness. Which is very true, who isn’t happy after receiving ice cream and in their case, sardines.I also think the author chose happy, upbeat colors was to bring the feeling that learning can be fun. The illustrations appear like they were half sketched, then used water colors to fill in the color portion. All thirty-one pages have illustrations that fully bleed to the outer edges. When Perry was laying down in bed reminiscing about his lost clams, you can sense the sadness by the dark grey/ black color the author used to surround him. I also think the author chose happy, upbeat colors was to bring the feeling that learning can be fun.
Representational: On the first two page spread within the book we see his friends zipping and sliding on the ice scooters. Fuzzy was doing figure eights, while Baldy could do flips. If you look at their facial expressions, pupils sit normal, while there beak is open showing excitement and joy. The background is a orange and red sky, possible sunset. On the right hand side, Perry is standing on a ice mound. His eyes are low, and his beak is closed showing disappointment or sadness due to the fact that he doesn’t have an ice scooter. The text is aligned toward the top of the page but centered.
Less than Zero in my opinion is an informative nonfiction. Although the storyline with Perry is make believe, the concept about negative numbers is authentic. The criteria presented in the book was truthful, accurate and based on a primary source. Negative numbers become a big part of algebra as readers grow older, an early introduction could be beneficial. The storyline Murphy created, was absolutely perfect for teaching, and could be used as a discussion starter to help kids get engaged.
I didn’t even realize till I started doing my good reads, that majority of the picture books I have borrowed feature animals as characters. I think the illustrations are always more interesting and the story lines are more imaginative. Your mom also had very good things to say about it, which made me want to read it more.
Style: The writing style is informative yet simple. The choice of words flow smoothly from page to page. The author included fluff words to make it more positive and kid friendly. For example on page 20, “Perry started a clam search. He looked everywhere - behind the rewarmerator, over the cooling oven, even the big ice chest.” I also liked how the author used clams as a symbol for money throughout the book, or how the fishy treat truck was supposed to be comparable to our ice cream truck. Murphy incorporated symbols throughout the book making it relatable.
Theme: The author did a wonderful job incorporating a lesson within the text. In less than Zero the math concept is negative numbers. The slow introduction of negative numbers can help in the development of algebraic concepts. This is visible when Perry made the graph and ‘counted up 4 lines and made another big dot on the 9 line. He connected the dot. I need 4 more clams to buy the scooter.” He does this repeatedly through the book, showing reputation to the readers. The author did this to help the young readers comprehend the process of negative numbers
Color: The color palate used in the illustrations are very bright and happy. They create a mood of inviting and calmness. The sky in the background while they are playing on the ice is orange and red, the graph that Perry uses is yellow, resembling happiness. I also noticed the fishy treat truck was yellow and green which both mean cheerfulness. Which is very true, who isn’t happy after receiving ice cream and in their case, sardines.I also think the author chose happy, upbeat colors was to bring the feeling that learning can be fun. The illustrations appear like they were half sketched, then used water colors to fill in the color portion. All thirty-one pages have illustrations that fully bleed to the outer edges. When Perry was laying down in bed reminiscing about his lost clams, you can sense the sadness by the dark grey/ black color the author used to surround him. I also think the author chose happy, upbeat colors was to bring the feeling that learning can be fun.
Representational: On the first two page spread within the book we see his friends zipping and sliding on the ice scooters. Fuzzy was doing figure eights, while Baldy could do flips. If you look at their facial expressions, pupils sit normal, while there beak is open showing excitement and joy. The background is a orange and red sky, possible sunset. On the right hand side, Perry is standing on a ice mound. His eyes are low, and his beak is closed showing disappointment or sadness due to the fact that he doesn’t have an ice scooter. The text is aligned toward the top of the page but centered.
Less than Zero in my opinion is an informative nonfiction. Although the storyline with Perry is make believe, the concept about negative numbers is authentic. The criteria presented in the book was truthful, accurate and based on a primary source. Negative numbers become a big part of algebra as readers grow older, an early introduction could be beneficial. The storyline Murphy created, was absolutely perfect for teaching, and could be used as a discussion starter to help kids get engaged.
May 19, 2017
This book is about Perry the Penguin. He needs nine clams to buy an ice scooter, but he’s not very good at saving. Perry learned how to earn, spend, find, lose, and borrow clams on a simple line graph. I think this book would be fun to use in a class project where students get to try this on their own.
This book could be used for fourth graders to introduce how to use money or how to compare numbers less than zero. I think this book would be fun to scaffold into a class project where students get to try this on their own.
This book could be used for fourth graders to introduce how to use money or how to compare numbers less than zero. I think this book would be fun to scaffold into a class project where students get to try this on their own.
December 8, 2019
This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed for the fact that ie helps to show a very effective way of keeping track of money with a graph and updating it day by day and creating a very healthy economical habit. The illustrations of the book were very bright and colorful for being place in what seems to be like the arctic because we can see that there is always snow or ice on the ground and the main character happens to be a penguin. I would use this book for the 3rd graders and up because of the teaching ideas that can come from it.
October 15, 2019
A pretty clever way to introduce kids to negative numbers!
Perry the Penguin tries to save money for a scooter and keeps track of what he has earned on a graph. The problem is he has to borrow money when he wants other things on his path to saving. He also learns that it isn't really fun to owe other people money- if you want to take the lesson that way.
Well done, Stuart!
Perry the Penguin tries to save money for a scooter and keeps track of what he has earned on a graph. The problem is he has to borrow money when he wants other things on his path to saving. He also learns that it isn't really fun to owe other people money- if you want to take the lesson that way.
Well done, Stuart!
Read
June 20, 2020I read this book to my classmates at NSU on Zoom. It was a fun read about a penguin who learns a lesson on how to prioritize and manage his money. The concept is learning about negative numbers and using a graph. In this picture book, third graders are the target audience.
March 22, 2020
Good book for introducing negative numbers to 3rd graders. Quite story about a penguin and saving his clams! Great suggestion for using a line graph.
May 6, 2021
I am so glad and found this book, which lead me to this author, which lead to the musical based on this book.
September 14, 2021
Awesome introduction to negative numbers and teaches personal finance too?
February 10, 2024
A masterpiece of 80s nihilism, told through spare but propulsive storytelling. I couldn’t put it down. I’m glad I didn’t read it when it was 14.
Read
April 9, 2013This story is about a penguin named Perry. Everyone at school has the new ice shooter but Perry. The new scooter costs nine clams and Perry has zero. So he does chores, work and search for enough clams to get the scooter. As he collects and loses clams Perry charts his progression. He creates a weekly dot chart to record his clams. The ultimate goal is to get enough clams for the scooter. On the other hand, just as easy as it is for Perry to get clams it is just as easy to lose them. Perry would spend and borrow money to either go to the circus or to eat fish pops after school. This book teaches students the purpose and importance of collecting data. They will learn how to create a dot plot and the purposes of the dot and connecting them. Also, when Perry has to borrow clams he goes in the negative and has to chart it. This teaches students the value of negative numbers and what they represent. When Perry charts it the students can visually see how the number line works and the numerical value of positive and negative numbers.
April 7, 2014
I really found this book as a discovery for myself. It is great for 3rd graders, which incorporates number sense (negative numbers). Students can have a clear understanding about negative numbers. The number line in front of students, while I would read this book can bring a clear explanation about negative numbers. The students can track Perry's(penguin) clams in the story by using a button or penny. The students would move the button/penny based on what is happening in the story. This story can be used even for assessing students’ understanding.
November 7, 2016
This children's book is about a penguin named Perry who must save up enough clams (money) to buy a new scooter. Throughout the story Perry learns more about money management by keeping track of his spending and savings. This story would be a wonderful addition to any primary classroom setting and a great introduction to adding and subtraction. This book is also great for kids, parents, and teachers because it has additional activities students can do while they follow along in the book or do separately. Such as creating a number line while following along, or keeping track of allowance.
June 24, 2011
I loved this book. It's great for 3rd grade and incorporates number sense (negative numbers) and graphing. Students can have a number line in front of them while the teacher is reading. The students can track Perry's clams in the story by using a button or penny. The students would move the button/penny based on what is happening in the story, and the teacher would check for understanding
February 17, 2015
I really liked the story that went along with the lesson. The illustrations were interesting and kept me intrigued to finish the book. I really liked the graphs that showed his progress and his loss, it helped to visualize the problems better.
April 29, 2016
This book is about a penguin needs 9 clams to buy an ice scooter, but he's not good at saving his money. As Perry earns, spends, finds, loses, and borrows clams, students are introduced to the concept of negative numbers.
Math lesson
Math lesson
May 17, 2008
I learned that buying fun stuff can be a wast of money.
September 20, 2009
fun way to reinforce math concepts.
October 28, 2010
This book talks about how a simple line graph can demonstrate the concept of negative numbers in a kid freindly way.
May 10, 2011
This was better than Divide and Ride and did a good job demonstrating the concept of negative numbers although the kids still didn't think it was a fabulous book.
April 15, 2012
This book is great for an intro on negative numbers. It also demonstrates a life lesson about saving money.
April 26, 2016
Less than zero introduces negative and positive numbers as Perry the Penguin buys things. I would use this to talk about addition and subtraction, and negative and positive numbers.
March 7, 2013
3-5
negative numbers/number line
negative numbers/number line
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews