Circles

July 25, 2016
Frequent collaborators Adler and Miller follow their books on fractions, time zones, triangles, and other topics with a thorough look at all things circular. After a brief run-down of two- and three-dimensional shapes with round aspects (cylinders, cones, spirals, etc.), Adler dives into what makes a circle a circle, unloading a significant amount of vocabulary along the way, including words like symmetrical, diameter, sector, and chord, all clearly explained in direct writing, assisted by hands-on project ideas and Miller’s playful circle-based animal portraits. By the time children get to the closing line—“We live in a world of circles”—they’ll be convinced. Ages 6–10.

July 1, 2016
Following Triangles (2014), Adler and Miller tackle another shape.Again beginning with a definition and descriptions of basic three-dimensional figures and what they are called (sphere, cone, cylinder), Adler quickly ramps up to naming the parts of a circle--radius, diameter, chord, arc. Readers use their own circles, traced onto and cut from paper, and rulers (marked only in English measurements in Miller's illustrations) to explore these concepts as well as symmetry and intersection. Brightly colored cartoon animals created from geometric shapes (largely circles) ask children to find and count radii, major and minor sectors, and chords. The learning deepens again as Adler looks at ways to find the circumference and area of a circle and the formulas involving pi. The only mathematical calculations readers are asked to do is in determining the area of six different circles using the formula radius x radius x pi = area. A final page looks at the usefulness and ubiquity of circles, though it seems more of an introduction than a conclusion, especially given its simplicity after some math that can be pretty difficult for young learners. Backmatter includes a glossary and the answers to the questions posed in the text. Another solid shape book that will grow with young geometry learners; don't let the picture-book format fool you--high schoolers could use some of this math. (Informational picture book. 6-14)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-In this companion volume to his equally attractive and useful Triangles, Adler addresses the geometric world of circles. Starting with an introduction to the realm of noncircles (spheres, cylinders, cones, etc.), he then launches into circular spaces-complete with centers, points, diameters, radii, chords, and other potentially unfamiliar terminologies. Simple, logical activities are presented to drive concepts home, including popping into the world of pi and challenging young geometers to find the areas of a gaggle of bright circles. Miller's bright illustrations provide an excellent guide for the experimental activities. A glossary is appended, as are solutions to the challenges in the text. Math teachers and homeschooling parents will be delighted with this clear, concise overview of a familiar shape with unexpected details. VERDICT Extremely useful for the classroom at home or in school, and very approachable in its colorful minimalism.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.