Elizabeth Everett (2)

This is a great introduction to the concept of spheres in our world as a 3D concept. Everett's bilingual rhyming book includes pages with English text at the top, a beautiful illustration in the middle and Spanish text at the bottom. The font is appropriate for younger learners still learning letters, so it is great to share and point to text as it is read. The English and Spanish text include rhymes, which is a natural appeal for younger learners. The format of the book includes a short 2 page explanation of what a sphere is, how it is 3D, and drawn examples of other 3D figures. The main section of the book includes rhyming text with narrative examples of spheres found throughout the seasons, such as picking cherries, throwing a beach ball, or making a snowman. Lopez's beautiful illustrations depict diverse children for each sphere concept. The final two pages are titled "What are 2-D shapes?" and What are 3-D shapes? Each page provides a three sentence explanation of the concept. This is the perfect introduction for preschoolers on this geometrical concept. This is a perfect family or classroom book.… (meer)

This children's book by former classroom teacher Elizabeth Everett is from Science Naturally, a publisher of STEM books for young readers. I requested the bilingual English/Spanish edition for review, but the book is also available in an English-only version, and there's a bilingual board book version that is (mostly) round.

Rhyming couplets on each page (English at the top, Spanish at the bottom) provide examples of spheres grouped by the four seasons. Sometimes the rhyming is a little forced, and the Spanish is not always a direct translation of the English (likely to improve the rhyming in that language).  The vibrant illustrations by Spanish artist Anuki López include diverse children with big, round eyes.

The book is intended for ages two through seven, although the concepts might be hard for preschoolers. My review copy indicates there is a teacher's guide available, although I cannot find it at the publisher's website.  A double-page spread at the end of the book explains the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes.… (meer)