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A TRAPEZOID IS NOT A DINOSAUR! by Suzanne Morris

A TRAPEZOID IS NOT A DINOSAUR!

by Suzanne Morris ; illustrated by Suzanne Morris

Pub Date: Nov. 5th, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-58089-883-6
Publisher: Charlesbridge

What’s the deal with the odd shape whose name sounds like a dino?

Triangle is the director of a space-themed play, and auditions are underway. The other shapes step up and state their strengths. Square says, “I have four sides. I can make a box. I like to stack.” Trapezoid continually interrupts, trying to proclaim similar merits—“I also have four sides. But I think outside the box!”—but is consistently dismissed. Eventually, the play is cast: Circle is the full moon, Star is a shooting star (obviously), Triangle stacked on Square makes the rocket. Trapezoid is cast as a dinosaur but rejects the role, saving the show when it finds a trap door and makes a dramatic entrance to ask to be the “rocket booster.” The show is a successful “BLAST OFF!” Despite Trapezoid’s intrusions, the other characters display good-natured camaraderie throughout, and there is plenty of wordplay. Star’s proclamation that “I have five points” is paired with a bulleted list of mostly shape-related statements, for instance. Illustrations are comics-style, with frequent paneling and word balloons. Sticklike appendages and a hand-drawn style make the shapes surprisingly expressive. The prevalent purple outer-space background on the wooden stage visually grounds the story while still allowing the shapes’ soft primary colors to pop. The text ends with a brief discussion on classifying shapes, a minicomic to further visualize parallel lines, and the URL to the author’s website for “more fun with shapes.”

An effective bridge from simple shape identification to more specific geometric facts.

(Picture book. 5-8)