Shape by Shape

by Suse MacDonald, Suse MacDonald (Illustrator)

Overview

What am I?
I lived a long, long time ago.
I had round eyes…
lots of sharp teeth…

This new concept book from Caldecott Honor illustrator Suse MacDonald is sure to entertain children. As readers turn the brightly colored, die cut pages, shapes on each page come together to reveal a creature from long ago. Page by page, MacDonald’s bright, cut-paper, collage-style artwork transforms circles into eyes and triangles into scales until a familiar creature is revealed, with the aid of a large fold-out page, on the final spread.

This 9 X 9 jacketed hardcover has die-cut cardstock pages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416971474
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	06/23/2009
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	141,399
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Suse MacDonald published her first book, Alphabatics, for Simon & Schuster in 1986. This book won a Caldecott Honor in 1987, kicking off a prolific and successful career. Suse continues to write and illustrate books for children, including Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round, Alphabet Animals: A Slide and Peek Adventure, and Dino Shapes. Suse loves to work in her studio and finds pleasure in encouraging readers to make their own artistic discoveries. Suse lives in Arvada, Colorado, with her husband, Stuart.

Suse MacDonald published her first book, Alphabatics, for Simon & Schuster in 1986. This book won a Caldecott Honor in 1987, kicking off a prolific and successful career. Suse continues to write and illustrate books for children, including Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round, Alphabet Animals: A Slide and Peek Adventure, and Dino Shapes. Suse loves to work in her studio and finds pleasure in encouraging readers to make their own artistic discoveries. Suse lives in Arvada, Colorado, with her husband, Stuart.

Editorial Reviews

MacDonald (Alphabet Animals) uses die-cut pages to demonstrate how geometric shapes can build larger, recognizable forms. Against a bright yellow backdrop, two black circles peer back as the text reads, “Do you know what I am? I lived a long, long time ago.” Little by little, the creature is given shape: “I had round eyes” (when the page is turned and circles added, the black pupils of the creature get yellow irises. Next up: “Lots of sharp teeth” (nine white triangles), “a fierce glance” (a wide crescent) and “many, many scales” (lime green diamonds), bring the animal to life. The final fold-out spread reveals the prehistoric creature in full. Younger readers might not fully grasp the concept, but the nifty design produces a satisfying effect. Ages 3–7. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Pres-Gr 1

According to a note to parents, this book is intended to help children notice the shapes that appear around them by presenting an animal that has been created from them. Beginning with two circles, the boldly colored spreads layer die-cut shapes one on top of another to make a final image. The left-hand pages offer short clues about the creature that is being assembled (e.g., "I had round eyes"). On the right, dark purple pages mask the upcoming die cuts and identify each newly introduced shape. The completed creature unfolds and stretches across three pages, revealing "A Brachiosaurus." However, the sharp, seemingly ferocious teeth are at odds with the typical depiction of this large herbivore. Overall, this work does not shape up as a dinosaur book, but may be useful as an additional purchase to reinforce visual skills.-Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

School Library Journal

In previous works MacDonald has proven to be a master of concepts by playing with space, design and clever construction. However, her latest creation takes a simpler approach. As the title suggests, readers layer single die-cuts with each page turn, shape by shape, until a prehistoric surprise is revealed at the end. Reminiscent of a certain Big Green Monster, this model is nothing new, but the author/illustrator knows what kids like. Bright, clean shapes pop against solid backgrounds, and a favorite lumbering dinosaur expands to fill the final gatefold. To be forewarned, there are sharp teeth aplenty, but they are contained within a wide grin, and the semicircles that illustrate the "fierce glance" give the dino a dopey, friendly appearance instead. Plus, the sweetest shape of all is not forgotten-his heart. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews