This book is a very easy read so it is best for ages up to 8, however, this would be an awesome way to incorporate cooking into math. As a class or in small groups your students could follow the recipe given in the book and see how even cooking requires math. Students could be inspired by the book to make their own dishes! ( )

Synopsis: This book tells the story of the Pig family as they try to cook a favorite dish for Mama, who is sick in bed. Papa and the piglets don’t know their way around the kitchen, and their attempt to make Mama’s favorite recipe results in the fire brigade coming to the house. The book features a full recipe and instructions as well as a list of cooking terms that Papa would have been wise to have learned beforehand. Grades K-5.

Response: To a mother reading this book, it seems to be a horrifying and tragic tale of a Mother’s woes; she cannot rest, even when she is ill, because no one in the house knows how to do anything competently without her. To a child hearing the story it will be a silly misadventure with Papa nearly burning down the house. This book can be a light-hearted way to introduce students to measurement and cooking terms. ( )

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Extra star for math integration: Measurement. Mrs. Pig is sick in bed, but her family treats her to a home-cooked meal nonetheless. We have the recipe (they're making chili) and watch to see what mistakes Mr. Pig makes as he prepares the dish. At the end are measurement conversions, an invitation to recreate the recipe in the metric system.