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.
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
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