Triangle for Adaora [Paperback]

Ifeoma Onyefulu (Author)

Book Description

Why won't Adaora eat her slice of paw-paw? She says she doesn't want to spoil the star shape in the middle - so her cousin Ugo offers to find her a triangle instead. As they walk along they see all kinds of shapes, from Uncle Eze wearing his rectangular agbada to musicians playing circle-topped elephant drums, from plants with heart-shaped leaves to a crescent-shaped plantain. And just when Adaora is too tired to look any more, they find a triangle - and a treat from Aunt Felicia! Ifeoma Onyefulu introduces children to shapes, African style, with warm words and photographs offering a colourful glimpse into Nigerian village life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A unique approach to learning about shapes. Full-color photographs and text tell the story of Ugo and his cousin Adaora, who set out to find a triangle in their small African village. Along the way, they also encounter squares, circles, ovals, diamonds, and more. As each shape is discussed, readers will also learn about life in this village. For example, it's noted that the drums (circles) are used to notify the people of important news and announcements and cowrie shells (ovals) were once used as money. Since not all of the examples offered are perfect geometric forms, this unusual title would best serve as supplementary material to accompany a unit on shapes or as an introduction to another culture.
Tammy K. Baggett, Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 4-8. As in the author's previous works, such as Chidi Only Likes Blue (1997), lush color photographs show the people of an African village. This time the story involves a little girl, Adaora, who won't eat her paw-paw because she doesn't want to disturb the star shape in the middle. Her older male cousin takes her on a hunt through the village for other shapes: they find a man's garment in the shape of a rectangle, clay bowls representing semicircles, and so on. A triangle proves elusive but not impossible to find. There's plenty along the way to tempt children to examine the photographs for the shapes and learn about the way of life in Adaora's (unspecified) African village. This does a fine job both as a concept book and as an early social studies book. Susan Dove Lempke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Childrens Bks (June 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711214670
• ISBN-13: 978-0711214675
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,777,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Pictures and Ideas!, April 4, 2001

By 

Tango (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Triangle For Adaora (Hardcover)

There are many children's books inroducing the child to varous shapes: Circle, Triangle, Square, etc. This book does the same thing but extends the imagination to look for shapes in things around us. For example, if you cut a paw-paw into half you will see a "star" shape; a plaintain is a "crescent" shape; some leaves are "heart" shape. The photograhs in the book are rich and colorful and give you an accurate depiction of life in a Nigerian village and the things that happen in daily life as well as the things you will find around you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, September 26, 2006

By 

Toy Loving Momma (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Triangle for Adaora (Paperback)

My son (5) and I just found this gem last week. He loves the vivid pictures and shape placement. He also loves saying the words of the many things Adaora and her cousing encounter on their search. What a fantastic way to learn about a different culture while reinforcing basic knowledge of shapes. I would recommend to all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars triangle for adaora gets all stars!, February 19, 2006

By 

ngobabe (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Triangle for Adaora (Paperback)

I had to buy this book despite knowing anything about it because it bore my daughter's name! I am so pleased - it is a lovely book of pictures from everyday Nigerian life that masterfully incorporates the different shapes encountered in Nigerian settings. I am grateful to this author who also wrote another wonderful book bearing my other child's name, "Emeka's Gift."