This sprightly introduction to shapes shows children how circles, squares, and triangles are parts of things they see every day. A square is just a square, / Until you add a roof, / Two windows and a door, / Then it's much, much more! The verse and a solid square appear on the right half of the two-page spread; a simple house appears on the left. Among the book's delights are its appealing, crisp design, clever paper-collage art, and its choice of kid-appealing subjects (like kites to illustrate the diamond shape) to grab attention. Lots of uses for this one, but it can easily be read and viewed just for fun. (Reviewed January 15, 1995)

Each double-page spread introduces a different shape: one page depicts the shape by itself, and on the facing page the shape is shown as part of a busy and cheerful scene. A rhyming text accompanies the illustrations, which, executed in paper collage in clear, bright colors, contain enough activity to maintain interest beyond basic naming.

PreS-Gr 1--An introduction to six basic shapes illustrated with bright cut-paper collages. The book begins with ``A square is just a square,/ Until you add a roof,/Two windows and a door,/Then it's much, much more!'' An orange square appears above this simple verse. Opposite the text, that same shape is transformed by the addition of complementary details. On succeeding pages, a circle becomes a ferris wheel, a triangle changes to a sailboat, the rectangle is used to form a railroad train. Other more unusual shapes are also pictured: ovals and diamonds become eggs and kites. The final pages are crowded landscapes that contain all of the shapes. Borders of each spread show the featured shape that appears to be stamped with a potato-cut print. An effective concept book with many possibilities for spin-off activities at home and at school.--Ruth Semrau, formerly at Lovejoy School, Allen, TX