Squares: An Interactive Shapes Book for the Youngest Readers

by Yusuke Yonezu

"An exercise in strongly colored simplicity. Thick pages with cut-outs invite babies and toddlers to feel the shape of squares and rectangles as well as to notice how the same shapes can represent different things. 'Two rectangles can become . . . two candles or two pencils.' 'This small square could be . . . an ice cube or a piece of chocolate.'"—Wall Street Journal

This board book full of squares and clever cut-outs is a wonderful way to introduce babies and toddlers to shapes.

Is it a door? A book? A train or a present? Read aloud and create a clever guessing game about shapes that will delight and stimulate the youngest readers. Squares and rectangles are everywhere, and the shapes and colors found in everyday objects come to life when the pages of the book are turned.

Learning shapes is a lot of fun when there are surprises involved—this die-cut board book from master artist and designer Yusuke Yonezu is full of them.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

26 pages, Board Book

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My two-year-old is captivated by this book. One page shows a shape cut-out, then the next spread shows two possibilities of what that shape can become.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What can three small squares be? A bus or a train. What could this square be? A pot or a book." With vibrant colors and die-cut pages, Yonezu has provided an engaging book for infant and preschool readers alike.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A discovery board book based on shapes. Purpose of title is to see the shapes in common objects.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relying on different sizes and numbers of squares and rectangles, the author stretches young readers' imaginations. Because there are two options provided, they can start to identify shapes as they appear in objects all around them. As are all the books I've read by this author, this one is visually appealing, filled with bright primary colors, and fun to examine, giving its readers the chance to make their own guesses for what the shapes can be.

[bird · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nous avions emprunté ce livre pour faire écho aux petits trous du livre "J'aime" d'Emmanuelle Bastien que nous avions lu précédemment. Malheureusement, ni moi ni Lou n'avons été emballées par les p'tits carrés. A 15 mois, je pense qu'elle est un peu jeune pour apprécier ce livre.

Nous retenterons l'expérience peut-être plus tard !

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Board book. The squares on the front cover (blue) are cutouts to the following page, and that trend continues through the whole book. Bright colors and blocky illustrations were appealing to 6 wk old Joe.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Board book with cutouts that explores what different shapes could be.

Good for toddler storytimes.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to share with little ones!