This Is a Book of Shapes
By Kenneth Kraegel
The Story
A simple shapes book starts with circle, square, and triangle — then swerves into an emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill, turning a basic concept book into something deadpan and absurd.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's bored stiff by ordinary shape books, this one pulls the rug out from under the whole genre — right around the time the emu shows up with a pancake wagon.
- Big idea: Even the most basic building blocks — a circle, a square, a triangle — can turn into an invitation for nonsense.
- Vibes: deadpan, dry, and quietly absurd, with a wink hiding behind every wood-grained shape
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy shape and concept books with a twist
- like to laugh at unexpected, silly surprises
- are working on identifying basic shapes
- respond well to repetition with a surprising payoff
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What shapes did you see before the emu showed up with the pancake wagon?
- Imagination: Why do you think the author put an emu pushing a pancake wagon in a book about shapes?
- Real-life connection: Can you find a circle, square, and triangle somewhere in our house?
- Feelings & empathy: What was the funniest surprise for you in this book?
