Wanda Martinez- What Shape is it?

Title: What Shape is it?

Author: Henry Pluckrose

Illustrator: Steve Shott

Recommended Grade Level: K- 2

Common Core Mathematics Standards Addressed

K.G.B.4 Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and vertices/“corners”) and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length).

K.G.B.5 Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.

.K.G.B.6 Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. For example, “Can you join these two triangles with full sides touching to make a rectangle?”

Summary: What Shape is it?  is a simple, easy to read book that introduces the concept of shapes to young readers.  The book begins by pointing out the different shapes that we can find around us. It defines simple geometrical terminology, such as angle, symmetry and face.What Shape is it? provides examples of shapes that have curved and flat surfaces, in addition to curved and straight edges. It teaches students about angles with illustrations and descriptions of angle formation. This book demonstrates both tridimensional shape, such as cubes, and shapes that have no corners, i.e., circles.  It teaches students about the difference in tessellating shapes and shapes that always leaves gaps among themselves.  This book relates shapes with objects, for example: calculators, balloon, clock relate to rectangle, round, and circle respectively; constructions such as the pentagon and pyramids relate to pentagons and triangles and foods like tomatoes, eggs, oranges, and pizza are related to their respective shapes.

Rating: I recommend this book because it is designed to encourage children to think about the concepts that form part of their world.  This book has many photographs that can generate discussion in the classroom and children will share their ideas about the different shapes represented in the book.

Classroom Ideas: This book can be used to introduce shapes and angles. It can also be used to introduce fractions. For example, teachers can draw and use a pizza shape to introduce fractions. Students can search around their classroom to find shapes that are similar to the shapes in the book.