Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In this well-conceived, bouncy and colorful primer, Greene (Barnyard Song) builds up various geometric figures from a line, the simplest element of every shape: """"A line is thin. A line is narrow--/ curved like a worm, straight as an arrow."""" Each spread acquaints readers with a single shape, from a square to a triangle to a circle. Beyond the basics, there are ovals (""""An oval's like a circle, except it's not as stout. Two sides go in to make it thin. Two other sides go out""""), diamonds (""""A ballerina's legs form one when bending at the knees"""") and crescents (""""It is a smile when curving up, when down it is a frown""""). The introductions stop, appropriately, with a red octagon (""""you see it at the corner. It tells the cars to wait""""). Like concrete poetry, each verse takes on the shape it describes. Kaczman, in a remarkable picture book debut, incorporates images with sharp angles and smooth curves in full-bleed double-page spreads that orchestrate all of the elements of Greene's text. His precise renderings, evenly filled ink blocks and animal characters suggest J.otto Seibold's computer-generated geometric forms; however, his watercolors are slightly mottled, creating a grainy texture. In this clever and fun introduction to the assorted shapes, Greene and Kaczman collaborate effectively, clearly expounding an oval, square or octagon through bouncy rhyme, familiar examples and clean-edged artwork. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Horn Book

Greene's rhyming text introduces readers to geometry by describing different simple shapes and giving many examples of each. For example, 'Rectangle's a book to read, / a window and a door, / a picture hanging on the wall, / a rug that warms the floor...' The art is flat with sharp angles and distinctive curves that emphasize the concepts presented in the text.

Kirkus Reviews

Cataloging several examples for each of ten regular shapes, Greene develops in an ever-changing rhyme scheme the premise that all shapes are made from bent lines. It's an eye-opening insight for readers, but confusing when blocks are considered square, a bubble, marble, and curled kitten'' are included in the list of circles, andstar'' is defined as the shape of a fish.'' Readers may also falter at the triangle spread, since the three blocks of text are placed so that it's hard to tell in what order they're to be read; thetent built just for you'' has a triangular opening, but what children will notice is the diamond- shaped side. Kaczman's picture-book debut features a set of stylized, evenly colored, very simply drawn scenes, sometimes viewed from playfully skewed angles or featuring sight gags—a police officer chowing down on a doughnut, a kilted man playing hopscotch. Still, an instructional intent hangs heavy over this, and the examples are not always on target; a better book on the topic is Dayle Ann Dodds's The Shape of Things (1994). (Picture book. 4-6)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

"In this clever and fun introduction to assorted shapes, Greene and Kaczman collaborate effectively, clearly expounding an oval, square or octagon through bouncy rhyme, familiar examples and clean-edged artwork," wrote <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW. Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Ten shapes are presented in picture and verse. Along with the familiar circle, square, triangle, diamond, rectangle, octagon, and oval are the less frequent star, heart, and crescent. Each shape has its own verse and double-page spread packed with visual examples. There are even some extras for observant children to discover. The watercolor-and-ink illustrations are bold and clean, with ample color; however, a texturing technique occasionally results in a slightly murky appearance. At no time does this texturing obscure the text or interfere with line or shape. Those tired of bright primary colors in children's books may find the muting a nice change. A fine addition to units on shapes and a perky read-aloud.--Jody McCoy, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas, TX