Reading Together

Storybook Guide Based on Lori Haskins Houran’s “Bravo, Albert!”

Explore math while reading and talking about this storybook.

Topic:

Activity Summary

Use this storybook guide with the book “Bravo, Albert!”
Many public libraries have this book.

Reading guide

About the Story

Wanda is too busy getting ready for her show to play with her brother Albert. Albert decides to visit Grandma and help her make a quilt. When Albert uses the wrong colored squares, Grandma teaches him the pattern she’s making: green-yellow-green-yellow. Soon Albert notices patterns all around him, like the stripes on the shop awning. Find out how Albert uses his knowledge of patterns to save the day when Wanda has a problem with the costumes at her show!

Words to Learn

MATH WORDS
extra set, pattern, square, order, matching, dozen, front, line up, row

OTHER WORDS
costume, company, scootered, awning, polka dots, zipping around

About the Math

This story is about patterns. While seeing and hearing the patterns on each page, children can learn that:

  • Patterns repeat in predictable ways. For example, Grandma is making a quilt with green-yellow-green-yellow squares, which she repeats over and over again.
  • We can guess what comes next in the pattern by looking for the sequence. When we see orange-pink-purple, orange-pink-purple, we can guess what comes next: orange-pink-purple!
  • You can make different types of patterns using the same materials, such as butterfly-heart, butterfly-heart (an ABAB pattern), and butterfly-heart-heart, butterfly-heart-heart (an ABB pattern).

Math Talk During Reading

  • IDENTIFY THE PATTERNS IN THE STORY
    What pattern did Albert just make?
  • ASK HOW ALBERT AND WANDA MAKE DIFFERENT PATTERNS
    How is this one [butterfly-heart, butterfly-heart] different than this one [butterfly-heart-heart, butterfly-heart-heart]?
  • TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN THE STORY
    Why is Wanda upset? How does Albert use patterns to solve Wanda’s problem?
  • LOOK FOR PATTERNS HIDDEN IN THE ILLUSTRATIONS
    I notice a pattern on the checkers board that Albert is holding. Let’s find some other patterns hidden in the pictures.

Try to come up with some of your own questions and comments, too!

Activity After Reading

  • CHILDREN CAN MAKE THEIR OWN NECKLACES OR BRACELETS USING SHAPES OR COLORS
    We have green, red, and blue beads. What pattern can you make with these beads? Describe it to me.