Pitter Pattern

Written and illustrated by Joyce Hesselberth

Discover hidden patterns in everyday life with Lu and her friends.

4.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.7/5 Goodreads · 227 ratings

40 pages· 381 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

Join Lu as she uncovers patterns in her daily adventures—from soccer practice to piano lessons. Explore how patterns shape music, nature, and more. Can you spot them all as Lu navigates her week?

"Hey, it’s a pitter, pitter, pattern!"

— from the book

From the publisher

Patterns are everywhere! How many can you find?

This gorgeously illustrated book from Joyce Hesselberth, the creator of the acclaimed Mapping Sam, expertly introduces readers to basic patterns in nature, music, sports, art, language, and math. Pitter Pattern is an exceptional mix of fiction and nonfiction perfect for home as well as classroom sharing.

Pitter, pitter, pat! Pitter, pitter, pat! Hey, it’s a pitter, pitter, pattern!

Lu and her friends love spotting patterns in their daily activities. Lu learns that patterns can be found at soccer practice, during her piano lessons, in dance class, at snack time, and even at the park! How many patterns can you spot as Lu goes about her week?

Patterns are an important building block of preschool and early elementary education, and Pitter Pattern includes examples of patterns found in music, weather, time, play, shapes, nature, math, and language. The accessible and playful illustrations feature additional patterns for engaged readers to discover. An expert blend of fiction and nonfiction, this beautiful and innovative character-driven picture book is an ideal read-aloud for classrooms, family story times, and for fans of Hervé Tullet, Lois Ehlert, Steve Jenkins, and Joyce Sidman. Includes backmatter about the patterns in the book.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 40
Words: 381
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture

Themes & topics

Books about grandma Books about soccer Books about music Books about parks Books about the zoo

The Bookroo review

What our editors thought of Pitter Pattern

In this creative picture book, Hesselberth introduces readers to a little girl named Lu and her family and friends. Lu is learning about patterns, and she finds them all around her. She hears them in the noise of the falling rain. She notices them in the food on each person’s plate at snack time. She recognizes them in the repeating structure of the seven days in a week, in her grandma’s quilts, and in the layout of the keys on a piano. In addition to the patterns Lu points out, Hesselberth fills the pages with many, many more. There are perfect patterns on curtains, buildings, and even ice cream cones. There are also patterns occurring naturally in nature, like the stripes on a zebra or spots on a dog. With little text and lots of patterns, this original book is sure to delight young readers who are interested in patterns as they scour the pages for them, even if older readers (and adults) find it repetitive and boring by the end. The flat, layered illustrations are consistent with Hesselberth’s style and are busy with repeating textures, layouts, and designs on most objects, from umbrellas to curtains to building windows.

The verdict

“An original book that will delight young readers beginning to recognize patterns.”

Bookroo Editorial

Reviewed January 2020

4.8/7

After the last page

Talk about it together

Lu finds patterns all around her: at the park, at soccer practice, at her grandma's. Help your young reader explore the patterns in the story, then discuss what patterns can be seen around him.

Lu has a variety of activities in a week—soccer practice, piano practice, playdates, visits with her grandma. What activities does your child have each week that she enjoys? What would she like to change about her weekly activities?

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

“The text and essential pictures offer bountiful opportunities for reader interaction, whether one-on-one or in a group setting. Young ones can verbally identify or point to their discoveries or participate in rhythmic clapping and repetitive dance moves.”

Kirkus

Critic

“A concise concluding explanation of repeating and growing patterns may well encourage curious kids to flip back to the start and identify samples of each . . .”

Publisher's Weekly

Critic

For readers who can't stop at one