SQUARES

Die-cut squares and rectangles form a variety of images as pages are turned, introducing little ones to the versatility of these basic shapes.

Three small squares become the windows of, in turn, a bus and a train. One square can be a book or a tea kettle (called here a “pot”). A rectangle turns into a door or a toy block. Two rectangles become candles or pencils. One small square is an ice cube or a segment of a chocolate bar, while four little squares can form a window or a gift-wrapped present. The final page asks readers to guess what a horizontal rectangle might be. Flipping to the back cover reveals it to be the opening of a mail box. (Though it is a red box on a post rather than the iconic U.S. Postal Service blue box, its use should be clear, with a bit of explanation.) Simple illustrations with bold lines and vivid colors combine with the die-cut squares and rectangles to encourage children to guess what these shapes might become and to recognize how they are part of larger images. Structured in a similar manner, Circles invites readers to explore the many different pictures that circles can contribute to, including an apple, an egg, a car with wheels, and more.

An engaging, visually appealing introduction to basic shapes, developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers.