  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2013 PreS-Gr 2—This picture book in rhyme focuses on everyday things-a square for a park, a round pot of stew, a rectangle for the scoreboard at the baseball game. All of the shapes and activities reflect Hispanic culture-stars are for parties and the celebration depicted is a fiesta. Round is a sombrero; squares are ventanas, or windows; and triangles are for chips and guacamole. Some of the shapes appear on two spreads, some have one, but all end with the refrain: "how many more… can you find?" The realistic illustrations feature lots of people of various ages. The paintings are colorful and lend a sense of movement and joy to the activities. The Spanish words are integral to the story but will be clear from context to non-Spanish speakers. This is a lovely book for teaching and sharing shapes within a culture or for just the concepts themselves. It is also a terrific title about family, fun, and sharing.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 04/15/2013 If kids look closely, they’ll see that the simple delights of the world are fashioned by shapes. In Thong’s (Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes, 2000) newest concept book, lyrical and playful text, peppered with Spanish words, invites readers to see, count, and find the objects that shape our world. What objects are round? “Round are campanas / that chime and ring. / Round are the nests / where swallows sing.” Slices of sweet sandía (watermelon) chilled on ice are triangular, ventanas (windows) are square, and huevos (eggs) are oval. Thong’s inviting, rhyming text is delightfully animated by Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book Award winner Parra (Waiting for the Biblioburro, 2012), who paints a vivid setting inspired by a rich Latino folk palette. With each turn of the page, kids will enjoy finding and counting the shapes in Parra’s stunning visual interpretations of Latino families, communities, and fiestas. A glossary of Spanish terms concludes. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. Loading...
 |