Starring Shapes!

PreS-Gr 1—Personified shapes and children alike attend Shapeton Elementary School and they are excited about auditions for the upcoming school play Hansel and Gretel. Luckily, this play includes parts for everyone! Each shape (triangle, square, circle, rectangle, rhombus, and oval) is introduced to readers on a spread. One page illustrates the shape in various objects such as kites and baseball fields, while the other describes the different things a shape can be. For instance, "Diamond soars high as a kite, finds her perfect fit in puzzles and dazzles in patterns." The language is a bit confusing at times, as Howells breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to readers. "Square is a swell guy to be around—but you probably knew that already!" This happens throughout different shape introductions, but not in all of them, and makes the text feel choppy and unrefined. While the childlike Photoshop illustrations are bright and clear, the wavy lines make the book feel rushed and do not work with the text.