Square

Title: Square

Author: Mac Barnett

Illustrations: Jon Klassen

Publisher: Candlewick Press

ISBN:  9780763696078

Review:

If you don’t understand your genius, then how can you know you are a genius?

Square has a secret cave where he pushes blocks of stone up the steps. This is his job and he liked it. He was visited one day by Circle who thought he was an artist, a genius sculptor, who could make art that looked like himself. Circle asked Square to make a sculpture that looked like her. She would be back the next day to view his genius. Square wasn’t sure what to do. He pounded the square block and created a mess of crumbles and it was raining. He thought about how he had not created a circle and wondered where his genius was. When Circle returned the next day, she thought he was still a genius. Can you imagine why?

This seemingly simplistic read is great for beginners. The basic black and white illustrations share circle and square shapes that appear to be primitive. There is a hidden message that readers can unfold with their own life experiences. Readers can also determine if this read has a message of accident or coincidence. Parents and teachers can open up dialogue to help readers decide for themselves as well as discuss shapes and even create their own work of art using shapes.