Circle under berry Author: Higgins, Carter | ||
Price: $21.68 |
Summary:
It's a puzzle. It's a read-aloud. It's a Rubik's cube on paper. This striking, delightfully different exploration of shape, color, and patterns redefines what a picture book can be. Young readers are shown that everything in the world can be seen from infinite perspectives.
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Reviews:
School Library Journal (09/17/21)
Booklist (09/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2021 Higgins' striking exploration of shapes, colors, and patterns features minimal (sometimes rhyming) text paired with simple shapes and objects emphasizing their relative placement. For example: circle over berry / under orange / over square is depicted by an orange oval on top of a yellow circle on top of a strawberry on top of a green square. Arranged in patterned stanzas, the first two lines provide simple comparisons (yellow under diamond / diamond over green) followed by a more complex spread that introduces a new item (yellow over diamond / under guppy / over green). Vocabulary is limited at first, with additional positions, colors, objects, and the occasional question appearing later. The artwork is particularly distinctive, comprised of brightly hued, stylized shapes and objects created from cut-and-collaged, hand-painted papers digitally assembled on white backgrounds. Illustrations are usually centered on each page, only occasionally veering off, as does a grasshopper hopping away. With largely predictable text this makes an appealing choice for emerging readers; the emphasis on prepositions will aid English language learners as well. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 09/17/2021 PreS-K—This artful concept book for toddlers and early preschoolers delves into shape, color, pattern, and vocabulary, all set within the context of spatial reasoning. Each spread features a series of vibrant shapes hand-painted and digitally collaged on a white background—a technique that feels reminiscent of the signature illustrative style of Eric Carle. With its rapid-fire introduction of abstract concepts—"Yellow under diamond/ diamond over green/ yellow over diamond/ under guppy/ over green"— the aims of this work are lofty and largely miss the pedagogical mark. Its vague patterning may be too subtle for even the most precocious preschoolers. Combined with arbitrary pairings, e.g., "octagon this/ rectangle that/ emerald left/ goldenrod right," and an unusual vocabulary, this elevated attempt at concept exploration is confusing. VERDICT Despite vibrant art, this book lacks a focus on one or two concepts to build spatial recognition with obvious patterns. Not recommended.—Sarah Simpson, Westerville P.L., OH - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.