ROUND IS A MOONCAKE

The Asian theme sparks a multicultural learning opportunity as a lively young girl observes shapes in the world around her in this delightful debut by Thong and Lin. A round shape is a mooncake and a rice bowl, a square is a name chop and a checkerboard, and a rectangle is a mobile phone and an inking stone. Only three shapes are introduced but a few objects represent each shape; some are universally recognized and others are specific to American-Chinese culture. Simple rhymes accompany each illustration. Thong’s text provides discussion starters for audience participation. “I can name more square things, can you?” This feature lends itself to a group read-aloud or an intimate storytime with a single child. Lin’s gouache illustrations are bold and colorful, lively, and filled with childlike wonder. Family and friends interact in scenes that depict everyday life in a suburban setting. The image of “square,” for example, has the reader looking through the windows of the house where the family is eating pizza and dim sum. Another illustration shows the girl writing Chinese letters with brush and inking stones as her father standing nearby speaks on a mobile phone. A charming and instructive math concept book. (Picture book. 3-7)