Triangles

by David A. Adler, Edward Miller (Illustrator)

David A. Adler and Edward Miller tackle questions about different kinds of triangles with a crystal-clear text and cheerful illustrations starring two friendly kids and one savvy robot.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

10/29/2022 ~ This book is didactic, in that it was written explicitly to teach concepts. There is no plot or dialogue, so it's not really fiction; however, the colorful illustrations and interactive suggestions make the book visually appealing. In addition, the concepts are taught in the context of the kids' life experiences and needs.

I would not attempt to read this book in a single sitting. However, it could be used at both the beginning and end of a math unit to help students wrap their heads around the purposes for each type of measurement.

I read this book today to evaluate whether or not to include it as a supplement to our elementary math curriculum.

[Jessie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This feels like a textbook with drawings of kids and robots. It introduces a lot of vocabulary when there's really no need, and there's nothing resembling a story.

The best thing about the book is that it shows a variety of triangles. No one is going to come away from this book thinking that all triangles are equilateral or right.

I like the idea of looking for angles and triangles, but the book feels really leading ("Do you see them? Do you?") and busy.

The statement about clocks that as time passes from noon, the minute and hour hands get further apart isn't really true?

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegant concepts meet up with clever communication, and powerful ideas.

Goodreaders, do you think this is true?

"Seen one triangle? Then you've seen 'em all."

This book helps us to know better. Readers learn about:

- Obtuse triangle
- Scalene triangle
- Congruent triangles
- Isoceles triangles
- And Right triangles

FIVE STARS for this elegant learning adventure.

[Christine Turner]

HCPL Juv Nonfiction 516.154 Adl
Library School Journal recommends this book for Gr 2-4.

David A. Adler and Edward Miller tackle questions about different kinds of triangles with a crystal-clear text and cheerful illustrations starring two friendly kids and one savvy robot.

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and concise. My kids liked watching the robot be built. We wanted another page to show the legs being completed. I wanted it to have a slightly more conversational voice, and it was a little hard to get into it at first. It was great information though.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is basically worksheet or textbook type material made very colorful and put in a book. There's no story and nothing to engage the student with the material.

It's very math vocabulary heavy.

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on the fundamentals of triangles and geometry for grades 3 & 4. Easy to understand and remember.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Anything and everything you have ever wanted to know about triangles in one very clever, fast-paced, wonderfully illustrated picture book!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up guide to triangles in all forms explianing angles and sides.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be less obvious. Very clearly a math book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triangles

Core Curricular Tie: Math

Explanation: Triangles by David Adler is a fun, accessible selection to introduce students to geometry. Since this text is interactive, it allows students to participate in their learning. Instead of just showing triangles, the text asks students to participate in creating triangles, and finding triangles in real life. This provides authentic connections for students to see the importance of geometry in the world, and how it can apply to their life. Since this book also features robots, students could use this book to create a robot with geometric shapes, paying attention to types of shapes that are used.

Rationale: This text does a great job of explaining geometry in a way that is engaging and authentic. Instead of a math text with practice problems, this text offers real-life connections and application. For example, there is a section where the text asks students to find angles on an analog clock. This allows students to see how they could use geometry in real life. The text also has a lot of new vocabulary that is useful for instruction (ex. angles, vertex, isosceles, obtuse, etc). Students can apply this vocabulary to everyday examples.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this out to read to my (spatially inclined) five year old, and immediately felt that it was probably too advanced. But as I was reading it, I asked him if he thought it was too old for him, and he said, no, it wasn't, and when I asked if we should just read something else, he said he wanted to finish it. So that's a triumph.

Many of these concepts are only incorporated strongly into kids' math much later-- and really only understood in high school geometry. But this picture book is a cheerful introduction to the notion of angles, of different types of triangle (right, equilateral, obtuse, etc.) and their angular qualities. The idea of angles and triangles designated by letters on their points-- the ABC triangle or angle vs the XYZ triangle or angle-- is seamlessly woven in.

It is relentlessly non-fiction-- there's no storyline--, so for most kids it might be better as a classroom book. But for those kids who are interested in such things, or who are slogging through a cyclical math curriculum such as Everyday Mathematics this could be a good book to share.

[Yvonne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Adler has a talent for writing content based picture books. Triangles is packed with math vocabulary that relates to triangles and angles. The use of a robot figure to teach geometry appeals to students. This book teaches:
• how angles are named.
• telling time using angles.
• measuring angles.
• naming triangles (based on angles and length of sides).
• similar and congruent shapes.
Students would benefit from hearing this book multiple times. The first reading would be to familiarize them with the vocabulary; and then multiple readings to answer the many questions and trying the mini experiments. I can’t wait to read this to my second graders to introduce triangles and angles and to share it with our Talented and Gifted teacher for her to expand on. 5 stars!!

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! You want to teach children about triangles? Want to review key concepts? Well, here's the book for you. Bright colors, digital illustrations and lots and lots of clear information make this book a stand-out. Readers learn about angles, about the different types of triangles, and about similar and congruent triangles. Two kids and a friendly robot build another robot using their triangle skills. Even the end papers are filled with information! David Adler knows how to do solid nonfiction and this book clearly illustrates his skills. School libraries will want to have it in their collections.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I think about this book. There is a ton of information about angles here. Kids who are interested could really learn a lot. But the information is given so quickly that I’m not sure how much readers will really understand or retain.

I love all the diagrams with the robot and the way the text explains angles, lines, and triangles very clearly, in a way that is easy for young readers to understand. I’m just not sure how much they will retain when it is given to them in such a direct and rapid-fire manner.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was excellent! Usually my eyes cross with a topic like this but I not only found this extremely clear and understandable but interesting too! The bright illustrations are outstanding - bright and humorous but absolutely attuned to illustrating the text on each page. I liked the progression of the explanation, the repetition of the terms and ideas that are presented in new examples and the design of the book. Great idea for an experiment at the end too.

So often these sorts of books are ho hum but this one is really good.

[Amber Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adler, D., & Miller, E. (2014). Triangles. New York: Holiday House.

Informational

School Library Journal

This is a great informational book on triangles. This book can teach practically everything about triangles from the different types, angle measurements, and more. This book has great illustrations and the information is presented in a humorous way. The story line of the book is building a robot out of triangles and describing and identifying the angles. It is a great math resource for the classroom and for students to learn about triangles.

[Amanda Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adler, D., & Miller, E. (2014). Triangles. New York: Holiday House.

Informational

School Library Journal

This book is a great resource for math. It teaches about all the different types of triangles and how they can fit together to create a robot. I think this would be a great book for second to fourth grade as a read allowed book. Students would learn a lot about triangles from reading and looking at the pictures in this book.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of info about angles, how to name them and measure and compare them, different kinds, and then moves into triangles and their types. Very informative, more than most kids could take in on one sitting, but good for review or lots of re readings. Pictures tell story of building a robot with mostly triangles and identifying all those angles. Pictures are well labeled.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a book to explain and discuss the vocabulary of triangles, this is it. On the other hand, if you want a book that has a story line that also tells about triangles, this is not it. Although I can see parts of this being used in math classrooms, it is not a book that most people will want to sit down and read for fun.

[Jina Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of mathematic vocabulary that relates to triangles and angles. The pictures in the book were support to engage students to learn the concepts as well. I would not recommend lower grades but it will be great to 4-5 grades when they learn triangle. Even if the students see the only the illustrations, they might understand and have ideas about the geometry learning concepts!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED. full of education, but easy to groc. also, not missing basic building-blocks of info that can make math books hard to get through. i can see reading this with a wee one and finding all of the ways that triangles are amazing!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think early geometry when using this book. Perfect for lower elementary learners - teaching angles and triangles in a visual way. A great refresher for myself since it's been over 40 years since I studied geometry!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many students could easily read this book and pretest out of repetitive math practice. I was surprised to see that the "Common Core State Standards" that the book addresses are listed on the page with the copyright and printing information. A sign of things to come, I suppose.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Triangles" is a non-fiction book that's masquerading as a picture book! Great at-home or teacher's classroom resource for students learning (the math unit) about angles: quickly walks you through the basics while making it fun with the layout and pictures.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book to learn about different types of triangles and angles. We read this and then did some tangrams afterwards.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For grades K-4. The illustrations are colorful and appealing. The diagrams are repetitive and well-labeled ensuring their meanings stick. Awesome. A great addition to your math collection.