Which is round? Which is bigger?

Title:

Author:

Mamada, Mineko, 1952-

Personal Author:

Mamada, Mineko, 1952-

ISBN:

9781554539734

Publication Information:

Tonawanda, NY : Kids Can Press, 2013.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 22 cm

Abstract:

A concept book prompts young children to compare pairs of objects and choose which has a particular attribute, a challenge that seems obvious until the pages are turned to reveal unexpected twists.

Reading Level:

BR Lexile.

Subject Term:

Size judgment -- Juvenile literature.

Shapes -- Juvenile literature.

Shape.

Size.

Summary:

A concept book prompts young children to compare pairs of objects and choose which has a particular attribute, a challenge that seems obvious until the pages are turned to reveal unexpected twists.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Main Library	Book	PICTURE MAMADA	Searching... Unknown

On the first two-page spread of this deceptively simple picture book, the text asks, "Which one is round?" There are two straightforward drawings showing the choices: an apple or an armadillo. For the child who understands what round means, that's an easy one --- the apple is round. Until you turn to the next spread. There you'll see that the same question is asked, "Which one is round? What do you think?" But this time, the apple has been eaten down to its (unround) core, and the armadillo is asleep, curled into a (round) ball. Surprise! Though the objects being featured are the same, the answer to the question has now changed.This interactive concept book, written and illustrated by Mineko Mamada, contains six such pairs, illustrated with appealing, unfussy colored drawings. For each pair, children are asked to compare them based on their shape, size, height, speed or color. As with the apple and the armadillo, at first the answer to the question seems obvious, but then a turn of the page provides an unexpected twist. Young children get drawn in, first to figure out the easier answer, then to laugh when they discover the new way of looking at things. This is a unique, innovative approach to the popular concept of comparatives. It's a terrific tool for promoting school readiness with preschoolers in areas such as observation, critical thinking and creativity. But with its playful spirit, young children will just see it as a lot of fun!

Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

Readers are invited to compare six pairs of animals or objects using concepts such as size, shape, and color. The comparisons are first straightforward ("Which one is longer?" compares a snake and an ant); then readers are asked again, but with altered illustrations (the snake compared to a line of ants). The simple art and text both encourage critical thinking skills. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

Playful or confusing? The illustrations by Japanese designer Mamada in this comparisons book are charmingly nave, but their conceptual twists tend to beg more questions than they answer. The premise is that nothing is as it appears. An apple is round until it is half-eaten; a pangolin, while not normally round like an apple, becomes round when it curls into a ball. A duck is bigger than a small peacock--until the peacock is in full display mode. The cat is higher up the tree than the mouse--until the tree bends and the cat is lower. This could lead to an interesting discussion with a 3-year-old--or could cause endless confusion, especially since some of the concepts are not really accurate. A snake is still longer than an ant, even when many ants form a long line. In one spread, "Which one is faster," a dog beats the snail walking up the hill, but the snail rolls down the hill faster than the dog can walk. The response might challenge the reasoning abilities of even the smartest 2- to 4-year-olds and lead to a sense of dissatisfaction. Used in an elementary classroom, however, it could prompt fruitful discussion. Ultimately, the book presents concepts that are too mature for its apparent age group to grasp without guidance. (Picture book. 4-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

Kirkus Review