Circles, Stars, and Squares: Looking for Shapes

Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts

by Jane Brocket

Diamonds, cubes, rings, and cylinders―shapes are all around us. How many shapes can you find pictured in this book?

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Mathematics, Childrens, Storytime, Photography

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

[From the author's website:]

My first book The Gentle Art of Domesticity was published by Hodder & Stoughton in October 2007. My second book Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer was published by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2008 and my third book with Hodder Ripping Things to Do was published in July 2009. September 2008 saw the publication in the USA of The Gentle Art of Domesticity by STC Crafts/Melanie Falick Books.

The Gentle Art of Quilt-making was published by Collins & Brown in Spring 2010. It is also published in the US by C&T Publishing (http://www.ctpub.com), in Australia by Penguin, and in a Dutch language edition by Veltman Uitgevers BV.

I am also the creator of the yarnstorm blog. I set up yarnstorm in February 2005 in order to write about knitting but the subject matter soon expanded to include quilting, baking, gardening, colour, inspiration, books, paintings and films (in fact, all the good things in domestic life). I am now blogging at the new jane brocket blog at www.yarnstorm.blogs.com/jane_brocket

I live with my husband Simon and our three children in Berkshire.

Reviews

[Sarah Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A (4 years old):
I don’t know what to say about the book. It’s about shapes. Flat shapes and spheres and stuff.
I like the pictures, and the pictures of candy in it - and learning some new shapes.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This covers way more than just Circles, Stars, and Squares

[Victoria Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never realized there were so many combinations of shapes until I read Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts children's book "Circles,Stars, and Squares Looking for Shapes". On the cover alone there are round window shapes, square bricks, round tomatoes and square needlepoint blocks, then inside there are a wondrous assortment of artistically designed and natural shapes.
The thing that truly makes this book unique is the way Brocket challenges the reader by displaying two types of shapes side by side with accompanying photos and text. My favorite is the way she describes a circle as "flat and round and curving" and an oval as "a circle that has been squashed in the middle," and a triangle "with three sides and three corners" and a diamond as "two triangles together".
Ranging from the simple to the complicated Brocket even includes more intricate shapes like the pentagon, hexagon, octagon, and cylinder. Splashy, profound and witty her photos are as delightfully rendered as her text.

[Lisa Lathrop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the companion book to "Spotty, Stripey, Swirly: What Are Patterns". Beautiful, bright and bold photographs depict shapes (both 2D and 3D) in the world around us. Shapes found in bricks, windows, buttons, quilts, candies, and toys are fun and those young children can connect with. As an art teacher, my only disappointment was "forms" were noted as "solid shapes"....easy enough to adapt to. The book also describes ovals as "squashed circles" - exactly the terminology I use as an art teacher. The book also covers "rings" - circles with a hole in the middle...and more complex shapes such as hexagons, pentagons and octagons with real life examples as well. Love the photographic examples!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book that uses real life objects to teach about shapes both flat and solid. The photographs are bright and eye-catching which works well with the target audience. The text explanations are simple and clear making the book easy to understand. This book makes for a great introduction to shapes that encourages readers to see shapes in the world around them.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept book focusing on shapes found in your environment. Text is simple enough for preschoolers and many visual examples are given of each shape. Flat 2D shapes are presented first, then solid 3D shapes are introduced. Great read aloud. Highly recommended for use in PreK-2 classrooms.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice concept book about common and less common shapes with bright photos of every day objects depicting the various shapes. One strange reference on the ring page, calling a life ring/preserver a life jacket.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the patterns and ideas in this one. Note to self: Don't forget this one for SRC 2013 cart.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has those hard -to-find solid shapes. Bright photographs.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing photographs showing different shapes in the world.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the photographs.