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My Shape is Sam
Circles were smooth and round. Good at rolling, spinning, and pushing. They all turned together to make things go.
Squares were sturdy and even. Good at stacking, steadying, and measuring. They all fit together to make things stay.
In a world where everybody is a shape and every shape has a specific job, Sam is a square who longs for softer corners, rounder edges, and the ability to roll like a circle. But everyone knows that squares don’t roll, they stack. At least that’s what everyone thinks until the day Sam takes a tumble and discovers something wonderful. He doesn’t have to be what others want or expect him to be.
With playful imagery, this story considers identity and nonconformity through the eyes of Sam, a square struggling to find his true place in the world.
Squares were sturdy and even. Good at stacking, steadying, and measuring. They all fit together to make things stay.
In a world where everybody is a shape and every shape has a specific job, Sam is a square who longs for softer corners, rounder edges, and the ability to roll like a circle. But everyone knows that squares don’t roll, they stack. At least that’s what everyone thinks until the day Sam takes a tumble and discovers something wonderful. He doesn’t have to be what others want or expect him to be.
With playful imagery, this story considers identity and nonconformity through the eyes of Sam, a square struggling to find his true place in the world.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2019
114 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Jackson
115 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 24, 2024
Wonderful book that teaches young children to 'shape' who they are - great art! Interactive books challenge young readers to follow lessons learned outside of reading; too often I think that we limit what we allow small children to explore based on our own acquired tastes. Books like this teach children to explore who they are and who they want to be.
June 17, 2020
As a Kindergarten teacher, I am always on the look out for books that encourage children (and even adults) to speak their respective truths and be themselves. Amanda Jackson’s
My Shape is Sam
accomplishes this hands down.
The book chronicles Sam, a square, who has been told from day one what his purpose is. However, for Sam, he knows that he has more to offer. He wants to define himself—for himself. Sam knows he has much to offer. He can make other contributions, besides those dictated by society.
You must be true to yourself immediately came to mind as I read the final sentence in the book. ”My shape is Sam”. Even as adults, sometimes we have to be reminded of our worth. Thank you, Ms. Jackson, for doing just that.
The book chronicles Sam, a square, who has been told from day one what his purpose is. However, for Sam, he knows that he has more to offer. He wants to define himself—for himself. Sam knows he has much to offer. He can make other contributions, besides those dictated by society.
You must be true to yourself immediately came to mind as I read the final sentence in the book. ”My shape is Sam”. Even as adults, sometimes we have to be reminded of our worth. Thank you, Ms. Jackson, for doing just that.
September 2, 2019
My Shape is Sam is the very best shape. Encourages children to be their best selves without scrunching into a label that may not fit them. Love how the author breaks it down into circles & squares--concepts children are very much familiar with.
December 13, 2023
Woke messaging. Not good for kids. The square doesn’t “feel like a square” so he decides to be something in between and circle and a square, thus non-identifying as either. This is inappropriate for young kids hearing this kind of message this young.
September 19, 2019
My Shape is Sam is a powerful book about self-discovery and self-acceptance through the eyes of a square named Sam. It has the feel of an inspirational movie and the fun of a day-in-the-life of a kid.
Jackson has a flawless way of tying everything together. For example, “Sometimes Sam was part of a bridge. Sometimes he was part of a building. But the best days were when he was part of a train rolling over a bridge. Or a truck zooming past a building.”
The story will keep you hanging on every word, and so many parts will give you the feels: “But when he turned to leave, something inside him nudged, Try again.” To me, that was just like the call in Field of Dreams!
Finally, the ending is perfect, so well stated and satisfying.
I truly believe this is going to be a classic of our time, reminding us all to accept ourselves for who we are, even if it doesn’t fit what’s expected.
Jackson has a flawless way of tying everything together. For example, “Sometimes Sam was part of a bridge. Sometimes he was part of a building. But the best days were when he was part of a train rolling over a bridge. Or a truck zooming past a building.”
The story will keep you hanging on every word, and so many parts will give you the feels: “But when he turned to leave, something inside him nudged, Try again.” To me, that was just like the call in Field of Dreams!
Finally, the ending is perfect, so well stated and satisfying.
I truly believe this is going to be a classic of our time, reminding us all to accept ourselves for who we are, even if it doesn’t fit what’s expected.
August 30, 2019
Ahhhh, such a lovely way to let kids know that shape and size don't matter, go for your dreams!
My Shape is Sam offers a fresh take on a book that delivers both a concept (shapes) plus a story arc. Sweet illustrations and text full of curiosity+sounds+PERSEVERANCE with a wonderful payoff in the end.
My Shape is Sam offers a fresh take on a book that delivers both a concept (shapes) plus a story arc. Sweet illustrations and text full of curiosity+sounds+PERSEVERANCE with a wonderful payoff in the end.
October 24, 2019
Sam is a square who longs for rounder edges so he can roll like a circle. With persistence he finds a way to succeed and be comfortable with who he is. This book is all about being true to yourself and not giving up on your dreams. A wonderful debut work enhanced with delightful illustrations as well as the shape of the book and its pages.
September 5, 2019
When what you feel on the inside doesn't match your outside, what do you do? For Sam, who happens to be square, he gets to rolling like a circle. A lovely picture book about being who you are ... no matter what label you are given.
September 13, 2019
Sam is a square that doesn't feel like a square. He wants to roll like a circle!
This sweet book about a little shape who wants to do something no other square has ever done is a great reminder that we can do whatever we want to if we just put our minds to it.
This sweet book about a little shape who wants to do something no other square has ever done is a great reminder that we can do whatever we want to if we just put our minds to it.
October 21, 2019
I enjoyed this cute story about a shape that wants to be something more
than he is. The text flows smoothly and the illustrations by Lydia Nichols
reinforce the text. Children should enjoy this story and let them
know that it's alright to be yourself.
than he is. The text flows smoothly and the illustrations by Lydia Nichols
reinforce the text. Children should enjoy this story and let them
know that it's alright to be yourself.
October 4, 2019
You don’t have to be one thing or another, just like Sam. You can be you, and that’s good.
November 15, 2019
November 2019 - it works as a story, and it also works as a metaphor for identity. Perfect for discussing gender identity or any other situation where some people don't fit the "shape" they were born into, or the self-expression they're expected to have. Ben chose this one several times.
August 31, 2019
Young kids will love this story of shapes that each have a specific job to do...and they'll cheer for the square who wants to roll like a circle and wins the hearts of the other shapes when he perseveres, pushing past the doubts of others to find his identity.
A clever look at staying true to yourself and discovering the happiness that comes when we follow the path to finding who we are - even if it means a bumpy ride in the beginning. Effective illustrations and simple text move the story forward to a satisfying ending. This book will find a happy home in any preschool or elementary school or library collection.
A clever look at staying true to yourself and discovering the happiness that comes when we follow the path to finding who we are - even if it means a bumpy ride in the beginning. Effective illustrations and simple text move the story forward to a satisfying ending. This book will find a happy home in any preschool or elementary school or library collection.
November 7, 2019
Sam is a square who doesn't really feel like a square and instead longs to roll like circles can roll until he discovers that he can, he just has to go about it his own way. A sweet story with parallels to real life experiences kids may have, such as the experience of being perceived as having a gender that you don't feel is yours or being seen as not being able to do certain things due to size, race, or some other external factor. Even if younger kids don't get all of the allegorical richness, they'll probably enjoy this fun story about shapes anyway! Also a great book to ask Whole Book Approach questions with, as the pages have rounded corners just like Sam.
Themes: Be Yourself; Shapes
Themes: Be Yourself; Shapes
October 11, 2019
My Shape is Sam is a delightful book for young children for two reasons. One, it teaches children about shapes and their characteristics, which helps young children to learn. Two, it shows that sometimes a person or child doesn't quite feel or act the way they should or are told they must. Sam wants to be a square but he wants to do what circles do too. Paired with colourful and geometric pictures that show that the world is made up of all sorts of shapes this book is a must read!
October 12, 2024
My almost 3 year old picked this off the shelf at our local library. We absolutely loved Sam and will definitely read again and again before we return it.
Bonus points because the illustrator is from Philly.
Bonus points because the illustrator is from Philly.
October 3, 2019
I enjoy that the language of this book is accessible to all ages. No child is too young to empathize with others who feel like they don't fit in in any way. Roll on, Square!
October 4, 2019
Adorable story, with a great message about following your own dream and being yourself.
October 15, 2019
It’s too bad that Sam couldn’t accept the reality of being a square that just happened to enjoy stereotypically “circle” activities.
October 11, 2019
This was fun. I really enjoyed this simple book about a square who wants to be able to roll like a circle.
January 9, 2024
Very confusing for young kids especially when they are learning their shapes. I will never read this to my kids again because I had to change the ending for it to make sense.
February 4, 2020
A nice story about identity with an important message of being true to yourself.
March 24, 2021
Simple, cute, and had me tearing up in the bookstore.
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November 2, 2019Queer content: so we can’t even do anthropomorphic animals as trans allegory in picture books, we’re reduced to shapes?
May 1, 2020
My Shape is Sam by Amanda Jackson, illustrated by Lydia Nichols. PICTURE BOOK. Page Street Kids, 2019. $18. 9781624147708
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Sam, a square, doesn’t mind being a sturdy part of bridge, a train, or a truck, but he is unhappy because he can only thump along when he is on his own. He persists with rolling as much as he can and as his corners become more rounded, he finds a happy medium between sturdy and rolling and he calls his shape “Sam”.
Another option to show kids why they can breakout of the boxes that they are put into. The illustrations are childlike, but they work very well. The corners of the pages are even rounded!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Sam, a square, doesn’t mind being a sturdy part of bridge, a train, or a truck, but he is unhappy because he can only thump along when he is on his own. He persists with rolling as much as he can and as his corners become more rounded, he finds a happy medium between sturdy and rolling and he calls his shape “Sam”.
Another option to show kids why they can breakout of the boxes that they are put into. The illustrations are childlike, but they work very well. The corners of the pages are even rounded!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
September 27, 2019
For anyone who’s ever felt constrained by a label, MY SHAPE IS SAM will speak to you! Sam has the job of a square – keeping things together, making things stay. Sometimes he’s part of a building or a bridge. But he’s happiest when he’s on the move, like “part of a train rolling over a bridge. Or a truck zooming past a building.” But circles? Well, they could roll and race at will. They could really get moving! And that’s what Sam wanted. Not satisfied with the narrow confines of his “box,” Sam learns how to roll. And while a square doesn’t roll quite like a circle does, he can roll all the same!
See the full review here: https://gabisnyder.com/2019/09/27/per...
See the full review here: https://gabisnyder.com/2019/09/27/per...
November 13, 2019
About daring to be yourself. Fun language and light tone for an important message.
October 18, 2019
Cute story about being true to oneself.
November 22, 2020
Clever allegory for kids who may not feel at home in their own bodies or wit traditional gender roles. Makes its point without being too political or obvious.
September 24, 2020
I enjoyed this one. My wife read it and was like "What is this book about?" whereas I thought the sort of vagueness of the story was a strength. Like, I read it as a book about gender binaries, and finding your place between them. But I think it this book could be helpful for a kid who finds any part of their identity or interests falling in an in-between place. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be a young kid who didn't "fit" in some way to hear this story and get the message that that's ok, just chart the path that's true to you. My three year old was very interested in the book, read it over and over, but couldn't really articulate what she liked about it. Which is usually the sign of a hit!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews