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THERE'S A SQUARE

Name: THERE'S A SQUARE
Author: Mary Serfozo
ISBN: 0-590-54426-8

by Mary Serfozo & illustrated by David A. Carter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1996

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From Serfozo (Joe Joe, 1993, etc.), an introduction to the square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval, and diamond. Each one is identified and defined in simple catchy rhymes—bouncy enough to be read aloud—and copiously illustrated with accompanying shapes of all sizes and textures. Cut-paper collages feature bright, anthropomorphized shapes (with very expressive faces) against landscapes suitable for the featured shape. The book is conceived as an entertaining lesson, and concludes with a carefully designed review that makes sense of shapes in an easy and imaginative way. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-590-54426-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1996

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
WHOOO’S THERE?
by Mary Serfozo & illustrated by Jeffrey Scherer

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT'S WHAT?
by Mary Serfozo & illustrated by Keiko Narahashi

- BOOK REVIEW
JOE JOE
by Mary Serfozo & illustrated by Nina S. Montezinos

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THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF

adapted by Stephen Carpenter & illustrated by Stephen Carpenter ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 1998

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In this entry in the Growing Tree series, the publisher copyrights the text, while Carpenter provides illustrations for the story; here, the three billy goats named Gruff play on a nasty troll’s greed to get where the grass is greenest. Logic has never been the long suit of this tale: Instead of letting the two smaller billy goats be terrorized by the mean and ugly troll, children wonder, why doesn’t the biggest billy goat step in sooner? It’s still a good introduction to comparatives, and the repetitiveness of the story invites participation. The artwork matches the story: The characters are suitably menacing, quivering, or stalwart, and the perspectives allow readers to be right there in the thick of the action. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: June 30, 1998

ISBN: 0-694-01033-2

Page Count: 24

Publisher: HarperFestival

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
YOU'RE INVITED TO BRUCE LANSKY'S POETRY PARTY!
by Bruce Lansky & illustrated by Stephen Carpenter

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HOW KIND!

by Mary Murphy & illustrated by Mary Murphy ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2001

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Good deeds beget good deeds in this graphically bold and bright celebration of benevolence. Hen gives Pig an egg, a kindness that inspires him to give a carrot to Rabbit, who in turn picks flowers for Cow, and so on until Pig returns the initial favor by presenting Hen with a chick—hatched from her original egg. The clever turn of events leaves readers wondering if Hen has hornswoggled Pig into doing the work of hatching her egg, or if she is simply thanking him for the gift? The youngest readers and listeners will not be distracted by such concerns and will enjoy shouting out “How kind!” as it’s repeated throughout the text; they may also be inspired to emulate the animals and take turns doing one another kindnesses. Electric pink, sky blue, yellow, orange, purple, and tennis-ball-green ink-and-wash illustrations outlined in heavy black add to the cheer and are complemented by the loose yet readable typeface, created by and named for Murphy (Koala and the Flower, not reviewed, etc.). For just plain storytime fun or for introducing the concept of karma, this is a winner. (Picture book. 2-4)