Fitting In:

by Haruka Aoki, John Olson

A heart-warming, inclusive, and whimsical picture book about a square trying to fit into a world of circles. This book celebrates what makes everyone unique and special.
 
In a world of circles, Square feels different! In public, Square wears extra shapes to try to fit in, but pretending to be a circle all the time is hard work.

When Square trips and falls at a big, beautiful circle party, everyone learns the truth about Square’s identity. In the end, Square realizes many friends are different shapes, too, and learns to celebrate the uniqueness of every shape (including the square!). 

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

44 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly adorable book about the pressures of conformity and fitting in. Square needs to fit into a circle world. His parents (circles) even purchase additional prosthetic shapes so that Square can look like a circle and fit in. However, the prosthetic shapes make Square feel awkward and clumsy and he aches to be himself. At a fancy circle dance, he actually gets the opportunity to be himself... and he finds some fabulous surprises along the way. THE BEST BOOK with the BEST message.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars--Shades of "The Point" in this sweet, uplifting story about a square who's born into a society of circles. The square does everything they can to fit in, including wearing a circle costume, but eventually accepts who they are, much to the joy of the square and other "circles," who as it turns out, were hiding their own true shapes as well.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is too long for a read a-loud for story time. This would be a great read for our kinder or first grade friends who are having a hard time finding their place. It's a truly heartwarming story.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely adorable book about finding oneself.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along the lines of Mixed: A Colorful Story, Fitting In explores what happens when one is asked to change themselves to fit in with the crowd. A great read for my first grader!

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful! A simple, relatable story, with bright, colourful illustrations. This is a book I wish I could give to my younger self so they wouldn't feel so alone in a crowded room.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun, sparse enough text to read at a storytime. Great for teachers to use in a unit on bullying or peer pressure. Loved that it wasn't about Square getting acceptance by the majority, but that Square let everyone else be who they were as well by being a trailblazer. I think this will land well with kids. Great message, in a silly package.