SHAPES

Subtle elements of design are used to introduce more than just basic shapes in this sophisticated board book.

Ten shapes are presented, starting with “diamond” and ending with “circle.” In between are both familiar forms and more-obscure ones: teardrop, parallelogram, stripe, and hexagon. The parallelograms are arranged in an attractive herringbone design, and the teardrops are presented as six-petaled flowers. Rectangles of different sizes are set at an angle. Layered squares encourage readers to study the page to find the basic shape. Intersecting circles are formed by concentric dots. Young children may have trouble identifying the primary shape in these colorful arrays. But on subsequent readings, and after being introduced to the concepts, older toddlers may see the parallelograms and diamonds between the six-pointed stars. The left-hand page of each spread presents a pale outline of the featured shape and its name printed in a shade predominant on the facing design. All are rendered in pastel hues of teal, yellow, pink, and light green, with detailed crosshatching, swirls, and patterning providing a visual treat and more to talk about. The exceptionally thick pages (each a full 1/8 inch thick) and a sturdy binding will help it hold up to repeat reading.

Simple enough for very young children but intriguing enough for older preschoolers to return to even past their board-book days; beautiful for all.