Snippet from Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin

Pam Calvert is an award winning children’s author of many nationally acclaimed picture books. She speaks to thousands of children every year, encouraging them to achieve their dreams and to love math through the use of literature. This book is a great way to introduce multiplication and problem solving. I would use this book for 3rd grade when starting a lesson on multiplication. TEKS: 1B, 3C, and 4E. These are just a few connections to the Mathematics TEKS.

Here is a snippet from the Multiplying Menace:

The castle was full of guests celebrating Peter’s tenth birthday.

“You have one gift left,” said his mother, the Queen. A big bouncy puppy ran out and licked Peter’s face.

“This is the best birthday ever,” Peter said as he ran his fingers over the dog’s soft fur. Just then, down the stairs came a thunderous rumbling and a cloud of smoke.

Peter watched as the smoke cleared. There stood a strange little man who said to him in a high, squeaky voice, “I have come for you.”

“Go away!” the Queen gasped. “I said your name ten years ago, and I will say it again. Rumpelstiltskin!”

“You can’t get rid of me so easily this time. Ten years ago, I turned your worthless straw into gold. Now I demand what you owe me.”

“Guards!” the Kind ordered. Ten guards rushed forward.

Rumpelstiltskin pointed his walking stick at them and muttered some words. There was a sudden flash and eight guards disappeared. Only their hats remained.

“By tomorrow you will see that the only way to save your kingdom is to give me the boy,” the little man cackled, and then he was gone.