Squares, Rectangles, and Other Quadrilaterals

by David A. Adler, Edward Miller (Illustrator)

Overview

Geometry is demystified in a new addition to a popular and amusing series of math picture books from a trusted team.

Comical cats and dogs guide kids through the essential characteristics of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, rhomboids, and other quadrilaterals. Angles and degrees are explained in words and useful visuals. Kids will get a handle on geometric vocabulary and can try out plenty of hands-on activities that will help reinforce the concepts. A glossary is included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823437597
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	12/24/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

DAVID A. ADLER is a former math teacher and the author of more than two hundred picture books, biographies, and mysteries for children.

EDWARD MILLER III is the creator of The Tooth Book and Recycling Day as well as the illustrator of 14 other math books by David A. Adler.

Editorial Reviews

"[Adler] emphasizes the rules that determine the correct name for each shape . . . and offers hands-on activities to assist children in proving these details for themselves. . . . a worthwhile addition to the mathematics shelf."—Booklist

"An unintimidating look at math and shapes, and a fine addition to nonfiction collections."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2018-08-14

Adler and Miller previously tackled Circles (2016) and Triangles (2014); now they add quadrilaterals.

The duo start off slowly (though not as basically as in the previous two books) and build the learning as the pages turn. Polygons with four straight sides are quadrilaterals. If their sides are of equal length and their angles all measure 90 degrees, they are squares. Using a ruler and a "right-angle tester" (a corner cut off an envelope), readers can test shapes. An analog clock is used to introduce angles and their measures, and as in Triangles, Adler encourages readers to snip the corners off quadrilaterals they have drawn and put their vertices together, proving that the angles always sum 360 degrees. The rest of the book defines other types of quadrilaterals: three types of trapezoids, a rectangle, a rhombus, a kite, and a parallelogram. The use of an empty cereal box to help children visualize shapes is rather confusing, and the digital illustrations are a little busier here than in the previous titles, the measures and marked angles sometimes visually overwhelming. Unlike Circles, the learning is not nearly as deep: This is more a glorified shape book that looks only at shapes with four sides and defines vocabulary, so the audience and format are a mismatch.

This has its place in the series but is not as strong as the previous two. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews