Review by Booklist Review
Clever use of simple shapes a circle, triangle, square, and rectangle, all rendered in muted red, blue, yellow, and green illuminate the many aspects of friendship in the newest picture book from Rosenthal and Lichtenheld, the dependably skillful team known best for Duck! Rabbit! (2009). The shapes, representing four pals, are lit up by simple eyes and mouths and morph imaginatively into objects like a cheery home composed of the triangle and square. The rectangle acts as a red carpet laid out for the circle, making the point that Friends make you feel at home. In another spread announcing that Friends know how to make their own fun, the rectangle balances on the triangle to form a teeter-totter that the circle and square enjoy. On other pages, all the shapes form a smiley face and spell out the word love. Playful and pleasant, with a softly sunny background and emphatic bold type, the book asks little readers to look closely at composition, while delivering its simple message. Sure to be a hit. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Rosenthal and Lichtenheld always churn out successes. Expect this to be no different.--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rosenthal's cheerful observations about friendship provide punny setups for longtime teammate Lichtenheld's (Duck! Rabbit!) visual jokes, all composed with four happily smiling shapes: a blue circle, a yellow square, a red rectangle, and a green triangle. The book is well-suited for an adult and child to work through together as they read each sentence, one per spread, and see where Lichtenheld's shape play leads. For "Friends make you feel at home," the triangle sits on top of the square to create a house, while the red rectangle lies in front of it. "We rolled out the red carpet for you!" the square tells the blue circle. Sometimes there's a rebus to decode, as when the yellow square completes the phrase "Friends play fair and [square]." "Friends sometimes think the exact same thing at the exact same time" shows each shape thinking about an identical photograph of a banana. It's upbeat entertainment, and a natural lead-in both to conversations about friendship and to creative activities using cut-out shapes of one's own. Ages 3-5. Agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreK-Gr 2-This sweet book of friendship presented by shapes is a delightful testament to the nature of positive relationships. Listeners are reminded of the many facets of friendship: the ability to create fun, to play fair, and to support one another. Rosenthal excels as both author and narrator. Her playful and inviting voice is accompanied by charming music and sound effects. The children's voices as shapes are engaging and welcoming. Still, owing to cues that are only presented visually, the print book is essential. VERDICT This audiobook serves as an introduction to the concept of friendship or as a reinforcement of what it means to be a true friend-an encouraging message that deserves to be shared.-Terri Perper, Olney Elementary School, MD © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Four shapes--a blue circle, a yellow square, a red rectangle, and a green triangle--star in this sweet and silly celebration of friendship. Spare text describes a trait ("Friends make you feel happy"), which the thick-outlined foursome then brings to life in eye-catching, clutter-free spreads (the shapes are arranged as a smiling face). Amusing, well executed, and engaging. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The ups and downs of friendship are explored in a geometric romp. Rosenthal and Lichtenheld (Exclamation Mark, 2013, etc.) rarely disappoint when paired together. From the adorably clever title alone (one hopes the realization of that particular play on words instantly inspired the entire book), readers know they are in for a treat. A simply sketched square, triangle, rectangle, and circle are all friends. They explain why it is good to have pals around. Some of the vignettes are concept-based: the triangle and square form a house, with the rectangle as the red carpet ("Friends make you feel at home"). Others are more literal: an image of the shapes all tilted toward one another is paired with this truism: "Friends are always there for you to lean on." Friendship is not always easy; sometimes quarrels break out (Lichtenheld's thick, black outlines become dented and bumpy). But friends never "stay bent out of shape for long." Chortle. The shapes take turns stacking, turning, and tumbling to portray the many aspects of friendship. But the very best? Friends fill our lives witha certain word that all four shapes can approximate to spell. Creative minds will delight in figuring it out! Friends come in all shapes, but these four just may be the sweetest. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
