Triangle (The Shapes Trilogy)

As a first grade classroom teacher, I am always looking for great read alouds to share with my class. This is one! I initially bought Triangle because I loved previous work by both Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. I also purchased it because we are about to begin a geometry unit and this would be a wonderful way for integration.I was more than pleased with this book! My students (6-7 y.o.) were mesmerized and engaged throughout the read aloud. They were making predictions about what would happen next and debating what they thought truly happened in the end.My first graders loved it so much, that I got it for my 3 and 4 year old nieces. They enjoyed the illustrations and thought the ending was funny. Their dad was overjoyed to have something decent to read before bedtime.This duo has a great chemistry. The simplicity of both Barnett's words and Klassen's illustrations work together create such a powerful narrative; one alone is not as strong as they are together. The characters, with only eyes, have so much expression that my niece picked up on.Do not let the simple words and pictures deter you. The story packs a punch. This is a choice piece of literature.

I got this for my three year old boy for Easter and he loves it. His dad 'accidentally' gave it to him early (yesterday). I read it twice last night and my boy brought it out this morning to look at on his own. He's a big Jon Klassen fan and he knows Jon Klassen's name and artwork by sight, so it wasn't exactly a hard sell.The things he likes about this book:-There are shapes, familiar and unfamiliar-- something this age group, give or take a year or two, is learning about and interested in.-There are two sneaky tricks, and the tricks have to do with common fears (exciting!)-There's a dramatic chase scene.-It's funny-Ending with a twist, or half twist at least.This book didn't come with a dust jacket. It has an extra thick board-book type cover (but it's very nice looking, matte). The pages inside are regular paper. The overall design of the book is so that the book looks and feels a little different, fitting for a story by the Barnett/Klassen team.

The artwork in the book is compelling, as is the playful way to introduce shape recognition. The story itself is not good...it indroduc s the concept of being afraid of snakes and being afraid of the dark — which is a horrible thing to do for children who do not have these fears!!! Also, the triangle and square characters are unkind to each other, and play tricks to make the other one scared. Really poor storytelling for young children.

I love this book. As a fieldwork student studying to be an elementary school teacher, I used this book to teach an observed lesson on shapes to Kindergarteners. Luckily, I got to focus on triangles and after reading the reviews on Amazon I had to buy this book. Conveniently my students just learned about squares so I could review prior knowledge.Furthermore, I used this book to the fulfill the following CCSS standard on geometry (K.G.B.1 - teaching about squares and triangles) and also on the concepts of tall, medium, and small.Also, when I conducted a read aloud to my Kindergarteners, they loved the book so much. One student even commented on it being the best book ever. Initially, I was worried about reading a book about a triangle being a trickster, but my master teacher had no problem with it. Plus, it didn't really influence my students at all. At least it kept them engaged and tied to the learning goals they needed to achieve.I highly suggest that Kindergarten teachers purchase this book. It fulfills some Common Core standards and is an engaging book with unique illustrations.

We adore this book. It’s hysterical for us and our babies. The illustrations are just amazing. We actually became huge fans of the author after reading this and have purchased several other books. It’s a witty, fun book that helps my kids become more interested in reading.

My 3 month old son LOVES this book and Square (can’t wait for Circle in 2019). He is very interested in the high contrast black and white illustrations, and I think he likes the figures because of their large eyes. My only complaint is the pages are really flimsy and will rip easily, and they stick together terribly. This makes reading the story to him (while you are holding a baby and trying to hold the book and turn pages with the other) very difficult. I’d like to have thicker pages. It’s also pretty expensive for a children’s book IMO.

I was very excited to buy this set of books for my great-nephew. I'd heard one of the authors on public radio talking about it, and read the best reviews. After reading them, I immediately returned them. Quality was great, but the story sucks. There was no way I would have given them as a gift.

My almost-three-year-old loves this book. We just got it, and he wanted to read it 4 times in one day! He asked to read it again first thing this morning. Great book for talking about intentions and feelings at a basic level. Slyly funny, minimal, and entertaining for adults to read too.

I love mathematics – with a particular interest in Shape and Symmetry. So, how could I resist an illustrated book called “Triangle”. Although I am a little older than the target audience of 3 – 7 year olds, I really enjoyed this book, and especially the illustrations.The main character is an isosceles (yes, of course I measured the sides) triangle, who lives in a triangular house, in an area filled exclusively with triangles of all sizes (but no scalene or right-angle ones). Being a liberal triangle, he has non-triangular friends, in particular one masquerading as a square (actually a rectangle, but I expect most children will not get out their rulers to check). Triangle wants to play a trick on Square. Actually, quite a nasty trick. He plays on Square’s fear of snakes. Square retaliates by making Triangle scared. Was his retaliation planned – or just a fortunate (?) coincidence?Not really a great lesson for children – how to terrify your friends by using their greatest fear, and validating revenge (deliberate or not). But, on the plus side – they will learn about shapes, and how you cannot get a square through a triangular hole (unless it goes sideways – something for the next lesson).

So checking out the one star review here, in some ways it's hard to argue. At face value there isn't a big story here, it's (pardon the pun) fairly two dimensional. Then again, followers of Jon Klassen will be familiar with simplicity. (I Want My Hat Back - Bear loses hat then finds it again, simple, right?). The simplicity feeds the humour.That said, though I read and review a lot of kids' books, I'm not the target market, my five year old is. The acid test for him is if he asks to read it again straight away, he did. He laughed, he talked about the story and he added what was happening, job done as far as a kids' book goes.I should add that this is a gorgeous quality book (the first hardback version), it really is a lovely looking book, great to handle.With Mac Barnett writing the words, he and Jon Kassen really compliment each other. Not quite as quirky and fun as their previous books, Extra Yarn and Sam & Dave Dig A Hole but still very entertaining.My one gripe and this stands for a lot of this genre of books is that it seems a little over priced. The face value is £12.99, a bit much for a short read.

I ordered this from Amazon after my 2 year old chose it from our public library. He loved the book it seems, and was very happy a few weeks later when I gave him his own copy of it. The test of a good children's book I believe is whether a child wants to re-read and laughs (if appropriate for the story!) My son thinks this story is hilarious. The paperback copy has a lovely feel to it, rounded edges and quality paper. The illustration is unusual and interesting, the story itself doesn't have much to it but as I said my son laughs every time. This has made me look at what other stories this writer/illustrator combo has done

This book is beautiful and simple (in the best way). I bought it for my 3 year old based on the cover. He has autism and he is obsessed with triangles, they actually calm him down when he's overwhelmed and anxious (he carries triangular shapes around pretty much all the time). Anyway, he's literally spent the past two hours flicking through this book and I've had to read it to him about a dozen times too.The story is clever, the illustrations are just beautiful and simple and my son hasn't been this chilled out and happy in ages. Thanks!

Quirky. Delivered on time. Firm matt finish to pages. Great eye expressions on faces. Used with my nursery class when talking about shapes. They thought it was funny - the adults loved it too! Would be suitable for all who love picture books. Need to get the others in the series now!