This is a Book of Shapes – written & illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel

  This is a Book of Shapes – written & illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel, Candlewick, 9781536207019, 2020 

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4

Format: Board book

What did you like about the book?  A silly take on shapes, this board book starts out a bit boring. “This is a circle” appears opposite a large, grass-green circle, albeit in an intriguing, wood grain veneer. Square and triangle follow, but just when we’re lulled into complacency, the next page features a very detailed cartoon emu pushing a load of pancakes in a wagon. And on and on. It’s pretty much the same joke throughout the book, except with porpoises reading to sea turtles and a rhino wearing a jetpack, alternating with the plywood shapes. We’re meant to view a pineapple as a weird interruption, but that’s obviously quite tame compared to the wildlife we’ve seen. It’s cute, stylish and original. 

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book?  Anyone with a sense of humor looking for a shape book! The simplicity of the images and concept should work well with toddlers and their caregivers.

Who should buy this book? Preschools, daycares, public libraries

Where would you shelve it? Board books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No.

Reviewer: Susan Harari, Keefe Library, Boston Latin School, Boston, MA

Date of review: December 7, 2020