It's almost Pi Day. That take place on 3/14. Pi is all about circles so I chose this book with Pea, because he's round and well, you could figure out his circumference.
I wrote a poem for Pi Day:
3.14159 Pi To the Rescue
By Sarah Tobias
I look around
and circles abound.
But their circumference is hard to measure.
There’s no beginning or end.
The ruler won’t bend.
I’m confused and filled with displeasure.
Then I learn about Pi,
how to multiply by,
the diameter after I measure.
Now I formulate,
and then calculate
to discover a circumference treasure.
Title: Pea, Bee, & Jay Stuck Together
Author/Illustrator: Brian "Smitty" Smith
Publisher: Harper Alley, 2020
For Ages: 4 - 8
Themes: Friendship, Dares, Courage
This trio is so cute! I love the play on words. Every kid, including this old one, will think about Peanut Butter and Jelly. You will find some fruit and nuts in the story, but no sandwiches.
Description from back cover:
Like all peas, Pea loves to roll. So when a no-good strawberry dares him to roll all the way off the farm, he says he can do it -- eazy-me-see! But along the way, a powerful thunderstorm bounces Pea off course . . . and right into the unlikely new buds: a bee named Bee who thinks she knows it all, and a bird named Jay who can't figure out how to fly. On their own they may not look like much, but if this trio can stick together, they just might help Pea find his way back home!
Opening Page:
So many plays on words and fun idioms throughout this story.
This book is promoted as a graphic novel for new readers. If you read to your kids, it would be fun to read together as well. The art is bight and cheery.
Activities and Resources:
Play a game of Truth or Dare.
Can you use the poem to figure out how to measure a circumference?
Figure out the circumference of Pea. What about the circumference of Jay and Bee's eyes?
The circumference and the diameter may change, but Pi with always Bee the same.
My favorite Pie to make is a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. Sorry Strawberry, you are becoming pie. The recipe in the link is gluten free and pretty low in sugar.
Learn about Honey Bees:
Learn about Bluejays.
Make a little cartoon of your own.
Draw a pea, a bee, and a jay.
Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie? I have never actually been a fan of the PB&J. I like peanut butter, I like jam, but I don't really like them together. Oh, but I do like peanut butter and honey together.
Here are some great ways to purchase the book: Head over to your local bookstore, order through Bookshop.org and support Indie Bookstores, or Buy if from Amazon.