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This Is a Book of Shapes
The creator of King Arthur’s Very Great Grandson and Green Pants switches gears with a slyly silly introduction to shapes—just watch out for the emus!
First comes the circle. Then the square and the triangle. Then the . . . emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill? What begins as a concept book about everyone’s geometric favorites soon defies expectations with a series of funny and imaginative twists. Award-winning author-illustrator Kenneth Kraegel pairs a deadpan text with simple wood-grained shapes, interspersed with vibrant illustrations of animals engaged in hilariously absurd pastimes. Each page turn builds on the delicious anticipation the contrast creates to make this a unique and rollicking story-time hit.
First comes the circle. Then the square and the triangle. Then the . . . emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill? What begins as a concept book about everyone’s geometric favorites soon defies expectations with a series of funny and imaginative twists. Award-winning author-illustrator Kenneth Kraegel pairs a deadpan text with simple wood-grained shapes, interspersed with vibrant illustrations of animals engaged in hilariously absurd pastimes. Each page turn builds on the delicious anticipation the contrast creates to make this a unique and rollicking story-time hit.
30 pages, Board book
First published January 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Kraegel
8Ìýbooks18ÌýfollowersKenneth Kraegel is a self-taught illustrator and writer. He was a CJ Picture Book Award Finalist and is a recipient of a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Tomie dePaola Honor Award. Kenneth Kraegel lives with his wife and son in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he enjoys hiking, kayaking, and gardening.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 8, 2021
My favorite shape was the emu pushing the pancake wagon.
June 1, 2021
Tag yourself: I'm the one who needs this reminder that life is absurd.
January 25, 2023
I'm conflicted because as an adult the interjections of random scenes were funny but I'm not sure they're helpful for a little one who still has an attention span and context for knowing these things aren't shapes.
July 1, 2021
A bit weird and entertaining!
April 27, 2022
Fun but it tried a bit too hard. These are the kind of books that are good for book loving toddlers to carry around and also are fun for adults to read.
January 20, 2023
The funniest and most creative book of shapes ever! Every child needs this one!
January 15, 2021
One of those exceptionally rare board books that reads like a "tag yourself" meme. (#i'm jet pack-wearing rhinoceros #might also be the desert it's skateboarding through)
March 7, 2022
Right off the bat you know something is slightly strange and possibly funny when you pick up this book. The title clearly states that this is a book of shapes, however, the cover illustration is of a quizzical-looking emu looking directly at you.
The pages do start off as promised, with basic shapes in bright colors with very straightforward text, such as “This is a square.� Peppered between these simplistic pages are very silly illustrations and situations such as “This is an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill.� It was a silly twist on what most children would probably expect to be a very basic book. I would recommend it for children who are familiar with shapes but who are also starting to grasp humor and how some things can be silly just to be silly.
The pages do start off as promised, with basic shapes in bright colors with very straightforward text, such as “This is a square.� Peppered between these simplistic pages are very silly illustrations and situations such as “This is an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill.� It was a silly twist on what most children would probably expect to be a very basic book. I would recommend it for children who are familiar with shapes but who are also starting to grasp humor and how some things can be silly just to be silly.
November 13, 2020
best shape book I've read
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January 28, 2021This made my day.
December 1, 2021
Quite hilarious. You just have to read it. :)
August 8, 2024
Author/illustrator Kenneth Kraegel, who has created six picture books thus far, made his board book debut in 2020, with This Is a Book of Shapes. At first glance this is a simple concept book devoted to shapes, with two-page spreads devoted to such things as a green circle, a red square, a blue triangle, and so on. But every once in a while something unusual interrupts the flow, from an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill to a porpoise reading a book of knock-knock jokes to a group of turtles. Eventually these occurrences come together, until a final beach-side party scene appears at the end...
This book is well designed, and feels clean and bright, with bold colors, solid shapes (of course), and plenty of white space on the page. What sets it apart is the humorous interruptions to the (seeming) main narrative of the book, as the exploration of shapes is intruded upon time and again by animals on madcap adventures. Of course everything—shapes and animals—is brought together at the end, leaving the reader with a satisfactory conclusion, but in the meantime young children will enjoy the unexpected digressions they encounter in this book. Read aloud with the right audience, I can see this one garnering some giggles. Recommended to anyone seeking somewhat different, more creative concept books.
This book is well designed, and feels clean and bright, with bold colors, solid shapes (of course), and plenty of white space on the page. What sets it apart is the humorous interruptions to the (seeming) main narrative of the book, as the exploration of shapes is intruded upon time and again by animals on madcap adventures. Of course everything—shapes and animals—is brought together at the end, leaving the reader with a satisfactory conclusion, but in the meantime young children will enjoy the unexpected digressions they encounter in this book. Read aloud with the right audience, I can see this one garnering some giggles. Recommended to anyone seeking somewhat different, more creative concept books.
November 12, 2020
Shapes, Smiles & Lots More!
PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: THANK YOU!
This board book may seem to start out like many other shape books until page seven is reached. That is when everything goes downhill, literally, an emu appears, with a wagon full of pancakes, going down a hill.
This tongue in cheek children’s book will keep adults laughing as little ones enjoy more shapes and animals doing outrageous things. There is a porpoise reading knock-knock jokes and a rhinoceros doing even sillier things. Sturdy pages fill this substantial book that is over seven inches wide and tall.
Instead of a children’s book that makes the kids giggle, this one will make BOTH the adults and children laugh as they go through it. But it does fulfill its mission as a shape book, with some extras—along with smiling faces, and an instant good time.
I highly recommend this 5+ star book to babies through age three. It is the best shape book I have ever seen!
Candlewick Press has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, This is a Book of Shapes, for the purpose of review.
PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: THANK YOU!
This board book may seem to start out like many other shape books until page seven is reached. That is when everything goes downhill, literally, an emu appears, with a wagon full of pancakes, going down a hill.
This tongue in cheek children’s book will keep adults laughing as little ones enjoy more shapes and animals doing outrageous things. There is a porpoise reading knock-knock jokes and a rhinoceros doing even sillier things. Sturdy pages fill this substantial book that is over seven inches wide and tall.
Instead of a children’s book that makes the kids giggle, this one will make BOTH the adults and children laugh as they go through it. But it does fulfill its mission as a shape book, with some extras—along with smiling faces, and an instant good time.
I highly recommend this 5+ star book to babies through age three. It is the best shape book I have ever seen!
Candlewick Press has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, This is a Book of Shapes, for the purpose of review.
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January 3, 2021You should never underestimate the power of those books conceived to be the first ones held in tiny hands. The best of them fascinate readers of all ages. Using less space and length than other titles, their words, art, and layout are designed with intention to convey specific concepts, often with humor, beauty, and cleverness.
These books caught my attention in 2020.
When explaining forms and how to find them, the more interesting you make the delivery the more relevant it is for readers. We tend to remember fun. This Is A Book Of Shapes written and illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel will take readers by surprise and have them bursting out laughing.
My full recommendation:
These books caught my attention in 2020.
When explaining forms and how to find them, the more interesting you make the delivery the more relevant it is for readers. We tend to remember fun. This Is A Book Of Shapes written and illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel will take readers by surprise and have them bursting out laughing.
My full recommendation:
November 24, 2020
This book begins like many other books about shapes, then takes a rather unusual turn by introducing an emu pushing a wagon full of pancakes down a hill. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with circles, squares, and rectangles and neither does the porpoise reading jokes and the rhinoceros skateboarding with a jet pack. But Kraegel does manage to relate these things to each other by the end. An amusing take on the concept of shapes, this book is bound to provide both learning and laughter for those who read it.
October 8, 2021
The best library board book we have checked out. I know it's crazy but I swear my 16-month old is saying 'circle' and 'triangle' after we read this a few times. He points to the circle and says 'sir-el'... Close enough!
It's also a hilarious book which makes mama and dada really enjoy reading it over and over and over as it gets thrown at us. Let me set the scene... Little boy picks up the book, walks over toward me, chucks the book at me, I pick it up, he turns around, scoots back and sits down between my legs and we read, point and giggle.
It's also a hilarious book which makes mama and dada really enjoy reading it over and over and over as it gets thrown at us. Let me set the scene... Little boy picks up the book, walks over toward me, chucks the book at me, I pick it up, he turns around, scoots back and sits down between my legs and we read, point and giggle.
February 11, 2021
I like picture books when there is a bit of absurdity thrown in. Hopefully, for kids learning their shapes the wonderful spreads of non-shape silliness will help them retain the concepts. For adult reading partners, you can use those pages of silliness to start some dialogue: What shapes do you see around the emu? Rhinoceros? If you could make up a shape what would you name it? Etc. I really like this board book!
July 22, 2022
Supercute, contrasting the straightforward concept book "This is a square" with the much wordier intermittent appearances of absurd scenarios. The rhythm of the book is very enjoyable, as the short, expected phrases are interrupted every few pages with crowds of words that tumble downhill. I'm new to Kraegel's art, and while it's not immediately among my favorite children's book art, it has a unique and playful style.
October 7, 2020
This board book introduces children to basic and more complex shapes, ranging from the circle to the hexagon. It also features dramatic, silly interruptions with fully realized scenes of animals doing unusual things. I thought that this was cute, and think that it would be a good fit for both board book audiences and older children who would appreciate the humor.
November 11, 2020
A shape book that kids just won't get. Or maybe they will.
Here's the thing. This book, in my opinion, will not translate well in a virtual storytime. It just won't. I picture kids calling out the shapes and then laughing at all the things that are NOT shapes. Honestly, I think of "The Book with No Pictures" when I read this one....BUT......again, you need an audience to pull it off.
Here's the thing. This book, in my opinion, will not translate well in a virtual storytime. It just won't. I picture kids calling out the shapes and then laughing at all the things that are NOT shapes. Honestly, I think of "The Book with No Pictures" when I read this one....BUT......again, you need an audience to pull it off.
December 12, 2020
December 2020 - this is indeed a book of shapes (and my 2 year old loved listening to me name the shapes and their colors over and over) but it's also a silly story with an emu, some pancakes, and more (which caught the attention of my 7 year old, who ran in from the other room to see what on earth was happening).
January 7, 2021
Humorous board book. Each 2 page spread features a colored shape. This is a circle. This is a square. and then every few pages something silly shows up (this is an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill) then it goes back to the colorful shapes. very cute. at the end it says this is supposed to be a book about shapes and all of the silly animals are in one scene with very obvious shapes.
April 26, 2021
Children often love silly humor. This is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel fits the bill for those early learners. Simple shapes and descriptions are interrupted with a crazy two page spread about something completely unrelated and quite hilarious. Kids will want to read this again and again just for the giggles. This concept board book is for ages 3 - 5.
May 7, 2024
My kids are now obsessed with pineapples. (spoiler?)
This is one of those quick and charming stories you won't mind reading when your kids beg for "just one more!"* It's a delightful twist on educational toddler books - that gets the rhythm just right even as it busts out of it.
*It's never actually just one more, but you probably already know that.
This is one of those quick and charming stories you won't mind reading when your kids beg for "just one more!"* It's a delightful twist on educational toddler books - that gets the rhythm just right even as it busts out of it.
*It's never actually just one more, but you probably already know that.
June 27, 2020
I saw this book and I thought, "I have to know more about it." It was different. I think that kids (especially kids already familiar with shape books) will think it is silly but I personally was a bit too old for the humor, I think.
September 25, 2020
This book is funny. Really funny. And educational. And full of imagination. And I have a feeling that I'm adding this to my daughter's bedtime book list and my story time book list. The text is clear to read and the illustrations are perfect!
December 31, 2020
For those who devour their books, i.e., the two-and-under set, board books are the best. This one combines all the best elements: it's sturdy; it's graphically pleasing; and it's silly. Requests for repeat reads will be numerous.
April 2, 2022
A cheeky take on a staid staple of the children's book world--a book featuring different shapes. Kraegel plays with the reader's expectations in a fun way, whilst also exploring different shapes. Fun for both mum and bub! A good one to read with 2-4 yos who will see the humour.
December 20, 2023
Board Book
Hilarious book about shapes and slipping in other story pieces along the way. I especially like the concern raised that a pineapple is included while ignoring all of the other animals, etc.
Hilarious book about shapes and slipping in other story pieces along the way. I especially like the concern raised that a pineapple is included while ignoring all of the other animals, etc.
January 26, 2024
This is a funny book! The bold colors and illustrations are captivating as well. My only note on the illustrations would be to possibly hide some shapes in the intervening pages, similar to the way the--very enjoyable--final page does.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
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