{"id":1396039169,"title":"Fractions in Disguise","handle":"fractions-in-disguise","description":"\u003ch1\u003eFractions in Disguise\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Math Adventure\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge.myshopify.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\" title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\"\u003eEdward Einhorn\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-clark\" title=\"David Clark bio\"\u003eDavid Clark\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEntertaining introduction to simplifying fractions.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (a.k.a. GCF) vows to track it down. Knowing that the villainous Dr. Brok likes to disguise his ill-gotten fractions, GCF invents a Reducer—a tool that strips away the disguise, reducing the fraction and revealing its true form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes back matter about simplifying, or reducing, fractions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/eat-your-math-homework\" title=\"Eat Your Math Homework\"\u003eEat Your Math Homework\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/beanstalk\" title=\"Beanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\"\u003eBeanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/multiplying-menace\" title=\"The Multiplying Menace Divides\"\u003eThe Multiplying Menace Divides\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-spread.jpg?7904222271979078641\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdward Einhorn, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Living House of Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), and \u003cem\u003eParadox in Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), a centennial sequel to the Wizard of Oz series. He is also a playwright and the artistic director of Untitled Theater Company #61, a theater group producing drama with a philosophical bent. He lives in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge.myshopify.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\" title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Edward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Clark, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Clark is the illustrator of more than fifteen books for children, including \u003cem\u003eHiggins Hole\u003c\/em\u003e by Kevin Boreen, \u003cem\u003eWhat's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World\u003c\/em\u003e by Katherine B. Hauth (a winner of the New Mexico Book Awards), and \u003cem\u003ePirate Bob\u003c\/em\u003e by Kathryn Lasky. He is also the illustrator and co-creator of the syndicated comic strip \u003cem\u003eBarney \u0026amp; Clyde\u003c\/em\u003e. He lives in Luray, Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-clark\" title=\"David Clark bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRIF's Multicultural Booklist (Grades K to 5)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot only tackling fractions, but simplifying them, this fills a need \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e thoroughly entertains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Cornelius Factor (G.C.F., get it?) collects fractions. But he's not alone: Baron von Mathematik and Madame de Géométrique also covet the 5\/8 that is newly up for auction. But the nefarious Dr. Brok, a master of disguise, steals it. He \"can take a 1\/2 and turn it into a 2\/4 or a 3\/6. It's still the same fraction, but it looks different.\" George won't be deterred. He invents a Reducer-half ray gun, half calculator-that zaps fractions into their lowest terms and goes to Dr. Brok's mansion to confront him and find the 5\/8. A clever bit of detective work and a rousing action sequence later, and the 5\/8 is back to its lowest terms and part of George's collection. Throughout, Einhorn finds ways to humorously add fractions to his tale--the fraction lovers bid portions of $1 million, and Brok's mansion is 1\/10 of a mile tall--and painlessly describes the process of reducing them to their lowest terms. Backmatter summarizes the learning, though not as simply as the text. Clark's ink-and-watercolor illustrations truly make the characters' personalities shine. Dr. Brok looks something like professor Hinkle of \u003ci\u003eFrosty the Snowman\u003c\/i\u003e fame, while the pages simply ooze with the aura of a great mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo question—a large fraction of parents and teachers will be reaching for this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEinhorn, who addressed probability in \u003ci\u003eA Very Improbable Story\u003c\/i\u003e, explains simplifying fractions in this whimsical, if sometimes convoluted addition to the Charlesbridge Math Adventures series. The dorkily dapper narrator, a sort of fractions-loving cousin to Richie Rich, explains that he's been collecting fractions—represented by pie graphs mounted on pedestals—\"for exactly 2\/3 of my life.\" When a 5\/9 comes up for auction, he bids \"1\/2 of a million dollars,\" but a competing bidder steals the object when the lights go out during the auction. George uses a whisk and computer parts to make a Reducer, a device that is \"1\/2 ray gun and 1\/2 calculator\" and can reduce a fraction to its lowest form, thereby removing its \"disguise.\" The boy visits the thief's castle and zaps his collection of fractions in hopes of finding one that reduces to 5\/9. Featuring several characters reminiscent of Ronald Searle's caricatures, Clark's (\u003ci\u003eHiggins Hole\u003c\/i\u003e) ink-and-watercolor cartoons build on the story's humor, and Einhorn works hard to give the story a sense of drama, but wordy explanations of reducing sap some of the momentum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of collecting baseball cards or action figures, George collects fractions (illustrated as thick round discs mounted, trophy-like, on pedestals). At an auction, the tuxedo-clad boy competes against three rivals, including the nefarious Dr. Brok. The bidding for a coveted 5\/9 approaches one million dollars when the lights go out and the fraction disappears. So does Dr. Brok. Armed with a homemade gizmo for reducing fractions, George follows the scoundrel to his mansion, where the boy must find the treasured 5\/9, cleverly hidden in plain sight. A playwright, Einhorn manages to keep up the dramatic tension between the intrepid hero and the sneering villain while slipping in bits of fraction-wrangling information along the way. Using a restrained palette, cartoonist Clark boosts the story's comedy and its drama with his exaggerated portrayals of the characters and their actions. An appended page tells and shows how to reduce a fraction, an idea that even noncollectors may find useful. This amusing book could help lessen the all-too-common fear of fractions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the coveted 5\/9 fraction is stolen from auction by the mysterious Dr. Brok, it is up to George Cornelius Factor to find the missing fraction and return it to its proper place. Knowing that Dr. Brok is notorious for disguising fractions (such as by turning 1\/2 into 2\/4 or 3\/6), George invents the Reducer, a ray gun combined with a calculator, paper clips, whisk, and computer parts that reduces fractions to their lowest terms. Only after finding a missing sliver of Dr. Brok’s 34\/63 fraction (thus becoming 35\/63) and turning on the Reducer does George—voila!—find the 5\/9 fraction. Although the mathematical procedure for simplifying fractions is provided in the illustrations, younger readers may need the assistance of an adult to fully grasp the concept. A closing \"Reducing Fractions\" page includes step-by-step instructions for finding both the greatest and lowest common denominators to properly reduce fractions. A fun mathematical addition to library collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062181\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1674061947\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-57091-774-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-728-6 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-604-3 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 9 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 3. Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7.\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 4. Standards 1-4.\u003cbr\u003eMathematics. Grade 3. Numbers and Operations--Fractions. A. Standards 1, 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d.\u003cbr\u003eMathematics. Grade 4. Numbers and Operations--Fractions. A. Standards 1 and 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-06-30T12:40:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-06-30T11:13:19-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Early Reader","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Math \u0026 Counting"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":4204280129,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"17745","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":38455332208877,"product_id":1396039169,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-01-18T12:29:24-05:00","updated_at":"2023-01-18T12:29:25-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":671,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965","variant_ids":[4204280129]},"available":true,"name":"Fractions in Disguise - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":799,"weight":153,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":66,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-57091-774-5","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31045244027117,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.894,"height":671,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":31045244027117,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.894,"height":671,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965"},"aspect_ratio":0.894,"height":671,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062965","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003eFractions in Disguise\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Math Adventure\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge.myshopify.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\" title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\"\u003eEdward Einhorn\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-clark\" title=\"David Clark bio\"\u003eDavid Clark\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEntertaining introduction to simplifying fractions.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (a.k.a. GCF) vows to track it down. Knowing that the villainous Dr. Brok likes to disguise his ill-gotten fractions, GCF invents a Reducer—a tool that strips away the disguise, reducing the fraction and revealing its true form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes back matter about simplifying, or reducing, fractions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/eat-your-math-homework\" title=\"Eat Your Math Homework\"\u003eEat Your Math Homework\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/beanstalk\" title=\"Beanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\"\u003eBeanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/multiplying-menace\" title=\"The Multiplying Menace Divides\"\u003eThe Multiplying Menace Divides\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-spread.jpg?7904222271979078641\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdward Einhorn, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Living House of Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), and \u003cem\u003eParadox in Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), a centennial sequel to the Wizard of Oz series. He is also a playwright and the artistic director of Untitled Theater Company #61, a theater group producing drama with a philosophical bent. He lives in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge.myshopify.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\" title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Edward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Clark, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Clark is the illustrator of more than fifteen books for children, including \u003cem\u003eHiggins Hole\u003c\/em\u003e by Kevin Boreen, \u003cem\u003eWhat's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World\u003c\/em\u003e by Katherine B. Hauth (a winner of the New Mexico Book Awards), and \u003cem\u003ePirate Bob\u003c\/em\u003e by Kathryn Lasky. He is also the illustrator and co-creator of the syndicated comic strip \u003cem\u003eBarney \u0026amp; Clyde\u003c\/em\u003e. He lives in Luray, Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-clark\" title=\"David Clark bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRIF's Multicultural Booklist (Grades K to 5)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot only tackling fractions, but simplifying them, this fills a need \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e thoroughly entertains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Cornelius Factor (G.C.F., get it?) collects fractions. But he's not alone: Baron von Mathematik and Madame de Géométrique also covet the 5\/8 that is newly up for auction. But the nefarious Dr. Brok, a master of disguise, steals it. He \"can take a 1\/2 and turn it into a 2\/4 or a 3\/6. It's still the same fraction, but it looks different.\" George won't be deterred. He invents a Reducer-half ray gun, half calculator-that zaps fractions into their lowest terms and goes to Dr. Brok's mansion to confront him and find the 5\/8. A clever bit of detective work and a rousing action sequence later, and the 5\/8 is back to its lowest terms and part of George's collection. Throughout, Einhorn finds ways to humorously add fractions to his tale--the fraction lovers bid portions of $1 million, and Brok's mansion is 1\/10 of a mile tall--and painlessly describes the process of reducing them to their lowest terms. Backmatter summarizes the learning, though not as simply as the text. Clark's ink-and-watercolor illustrations truly make the characters' personalities shine. Dr. Brok looks something like professor Hinkle of \u003ci\u003eFrosty the Snowman\u003c\/i\u003e fame, while the pages simply ooze with the aura of a great mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo question—a large fraction of parents and teachers will be reaching for this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEinhorn, who addressed probability in \u003ci\u003eA Very Improbable Story\u003c\/i\u003e, explains simplifying fractions in this whimsical, if sometimes convoluted addition to the Charlesbridge Math Adventures series. The dorkily dapper narrator, a sort of fractions-loving cousin to Richie Rich, explains that he's been collecting fractions—represented by pie graphs mounted on pedestals—\"for exactly 2\/3 of my life.\" When a 5\/9 comes up for auction, he bids \"1\/2 of a million dollars,\" but a competing bidder steals the object when the lights go out during the auction. George uses a whisk and computer parts to make a Reducer, a device that is \"1\/2 ray gun and 1\/2 calculator\" and can reduce a fraction to its lowest form, thereby removing its \"disguise.\" The boy visits the thief's castle and zaps his collection of fractions in hopes of finding one that reduces to 5\/9. Featuring several characters reminiscent of Ronald Searle's caricatures, Clark's (\u003ci\u003eHiggins Hole\u003c\/i\u003e) ink-and-watercolor cartoons build on the story's humor, and Einhorn works hard to give the story a sense of drama, but wordy explanations of reducing sap some of the momentum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of collecting baseball cards or action figures, George collects fractions (illustrated as thick round discs mounted, trophy-like, on pedestals). At an auction, the tuxedo-clad boy competes against three rivals, including the nefarious Dr. Brok. The bidding for a coveted 5\/9 approaches one million dollars when the lights go out and the fraction disappears. So does Dr. Brok. Armed with a homemade gizmo for reducing fractions, George follows the scoundrel to his mansion, where the boy must find the treasured 5\/9, cleverly hidden in plain sight. A playwright, Einhorn manages to keep up the dramatic tension between the intrepid hero and the sneering villain while slipping in bits of fraction-wrangling information along the way. Using a restrained palette, cartoonist Clark boosts the story's comedy and its drama with his exaggerated portrayals of the characters and their actions. An appended page tells and shows how to reduce a fraction, an idea that even noncollectors may find useful. This amusing book could help lessen the all-too-common fear of fractions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the coveted 5\/9 fraction is stolen from auction by the mysterious Dr. Brok, it is up to George Cornelius Factor to find the missing fraction and return it to its proper place. Knowing that Dr. Brok is notorious for disguising fractions (such as by turning 1\/2 into 2\/4 or 3\/6), George invents the Reducer, a ray gun combined with a calculator, paper clips, whisk, and computer parts that reduces fractions to their lowest terms. Only after finding a missing sliver of Dr. Brok’s 34\/63 fraction (thus becoming 35\/63) and turning on the Reducer does George—voila!—find the 5\/9 fraction. Although the mathematical procedure for simplifying fractions is provided in the illustrations, younger readers may need the assistance of an adult to fully grasp the concept. A closing \"Reducing Fractions\" page includes step-by-step instructions for finding both the greatest and lowest common denominators to properly reduce fractions. A fun mathematical addition to library collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-cover.jpg?v=1674062181\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/fractions-in-disguise-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1674061947\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-57091-774-5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-728-6 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-604-3 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 9 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 3. Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7.\u003cbr\u003eReading Literature. Grade 4. Standards 1-4.\u003cbr\u003eMathematics. Grade 3. Numbers and Operations--Fractions. A. Standards 1, 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d.\u003cbr\u003eMathematics. Grade 4. Numbers and Operations--Fractions. A. Standards 1 and 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}