Title: CIRCLE SQUARE MOOSE
Written by: Kelly Bingham
Illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky
Published by: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2014
Themes/Topics: shapes, moose, zebra, friendship
Suitable for ages: 3-7
Opening:
Shapes are all around
us. We see
them every day.
Have you ever
looked at
a button?
This one is a ….. circle.
Synopsis:
Looking at the opening page you may well think we are in for a standard shape concept book, but with characters around like Moose (and Zebra, both in Z is for Moose, their first book together) nothing is ever standard. Moose loves shapes and he’s in his element in this shape-fest until well, you know Moose, he wrecks everything. It starts with him eating a sandwich, granted it was a square! Thank goodness for friend’s like Zebra who somehow manage to unstick Moose’s messes even if they land Zebra in a worse mess. The unsticking of this book invasion is pretty epic and I will let readers discover it themselves.
Why I like This Book:
Bingham’s text, cleverly interspersed with rhyming passages, offers ideal opportunities for children to relate the shapes introduced to daily life. Kids will also love Moose’s interrupting humor. If they have already read Z is for Moose, they will especially enjoy seeing these two characters again. There is a cool nod to Weisner’s THE THREE PIGS just as disaster hits. I love the twist at the end of Zebra now needing Moose’s help.
While this isn’t an easy read-aloud, it is a great introduction to shapes and young readers will find many everyday shapes in the illustrations on each page. I would suggest small groups of children and lots of browsing time with this one.
Activities/Resources:
- The Best Children’s Books website has a great list of picture books for teaching geometrical shapes to children.
- The Preschool Shapes pinterest board by Carolyn Chao contains an abundance of shape activities and resources.
- Here’s the youtube book trailer.
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
You have whet my book appetite! I loved meeting Zebra and Moose in their debut alphabet book and am excited to learn the twist in this one.
Such a creative and entertaining book. I enjoyed the Zebra and Moose alphabet book. Writing a concept book about shapes sounds like a fun progression for their personalities! Great review!
Nice review. Will have to check this out!
This looks awesome. I love it when authors layer concept books with humor, surprises, relatability, etc. It makes learning fun and memorable. Great suggestion. 🙂
this one is on my “really read it” list… and now, having read your review I guess I really ought to go find a copy. It looks like delightful fun.