Review by Booklist Review
Ever since they were a dot and a speck, Circle and Square have been best friends, each appreciating the other's best qualities. Then Triangle arrives and everything goes awry: Circle develops a taste for triangular pizza; Square becomes fascinated by pyramids; and jealousy permeates everyone's mood. Triangle attempts to broker peace, but the warring shapes pull him into a two-dimensional line, which spurs Circle and Square to mend fences finally. Colleen's gentle parable brims with clever language (especially puns) that keeps the tone light and prevents didacticism. Shea's simple geometric characters sport expressive faces, and color-coded dialogue adds detail to the main narrative. On one page, for example, Circle shares a favorite basketball book, Square inquires about Egyptian pyramids, and Triangle spouts wordless thought bubbles filled with three-sided shapes. Young listeners are sure to empathize with this common friendship predicament, and while the solution feels a bit far-fetched (Triangle regains his shape in a slingshot ride), the resulting camaraderie is sure to please. As Triangle concludes, we make quite a trio. --Weisman, Kay Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Circle and Square are best buddies: "Circle admired Square for all his good points," writes Colleen (the Super Happy Party Bears series). "Square loved that his best friend really knew how to rock and roll." But soon after Triangle arrives on the scene, Circle and Square are ditching each other and vying for his attention. "I'm suddenly craving pizza," says Circle, gazing at Triangle like a fan boy and waving away Square's offer of grilled cheese. Square and Circle may be plane figures, but the plaintiveness of their jealously and sense of abandonment is something any kid will recognize. The emotional sting is made tolerable thanks to the happy marriage of funny (and almost nonstop) geometric wordplay ("Circle and Square's friendship was bent out of shape") and Shea's freewheeling cartooning. The story does lose its way at the climax, though, as Circle and Square (somehow) pull Triangle apart while fighting over him and (somehow) put him back together with a bit of research and a catapult. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Susan Hawk, Bent Agency. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Circle and Square's close friendship of many years hits a snag when a new student joins their class; neither is ready for the addition or the change in their relationship. Cheery, orange, "bold and exciting" Triangle creates a wedge between the two pals. It's difficult for either to avoid his magnetic energy and new ideas-a craving for pizza or a bit of reading about the shape of boat sails, mountains, and the Egyptian pyramids. Within a short period of time, "everything seemed to become triangular." Strategic placement of eyes or glasses with squiggly lines on cartooneish faces within simple geometric shapes highlight a range of emotions for each personality as jealousies arise to a crisis point. While art emphasizes the geometric differences between the friends and their shapes, text adds humor through wordplay: "Everything became pointless"; "Square tried a different angle"; and their "friendship took on a shape of its own." VERDICT A cautionary tale for young readers, this book gives new insight into developing relationships while bringing new acquaintances into a friendship circle. A solid general purchase for all libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX © 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
Square is a bookworm; Circle likes to "bounce into the action." Nevertheless, they've been best friends "since they were a dot and a speck." When flashy newcomer Triangle arrives, a "wedge" is driven between them, as described in Colleen's clever, math-centric text. Shea's geometric illustrations give the spindly-legged characters lots of personality. (c) Copyright 2018. 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
When can a Triangle cause real trouble?When it comes between Circle and Square, true best friends "since they were a dot and a speck." Each shape is anthropomorphized: stick-figure hands and feet, different types of eyes, stereotypical spectacles for the squarish "bookworm," yellow-striped headband for Circle, who "knew how to rock and roll," and cool blue forelock for the "bold and exciting Triangle." Colors in retro-style digital illustrations look a little toned down from bright crayon colors but still pop. The basic shapes are echoed and sometimes combined in other illustration elements. Adults may want to point these out or ask young children to search for them (the four triangles in a grilled-cheese sandwich, a party hat), but this book also focuses on what happens when a new, third person changes the relationship of an established pair. The text and illustrations attempt to make these emotional changes (and the reactions to them) tangible, but they sometimes fail by using visual and verbal puns that will not be fully understood by child readers. When Square and Circle pull too hard on Triangle's sides, the shape becomes "pointless" and Triangle's body disappears, leaving only his facial features, for instance. To solve the problem, Square repairs to the library and the lab, Circle trains hard, and they both work together to bring back their friend, forming "quite a trio." This sophisticated picture book works too hard at its important theme, but it may appeal to children of a mathematical bent. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
