CUBES, CONES, CYLINDERS, & SPHERES

Pictures tell the story in this wordless book. Hoban creates photographs that show the geometric shapes of the world around us. Everything looks spontaneous, yet her meticulously composed images make the four mathematical shapes that are her subject clear and interesting. Boldly framed pictures sometimes demonstrate just one shape; others show a combination. In brilliant color, she uses objects such as blocks, wrapped birthday gifts, bubbles, and baseballs, which have enormous child-appeal. Children are often present in the scenes, but do not dominate them. A child’s hands show a Parcheesi board and dice, two children examine a globe, and a hand builds a sugar cube castle. City streets and interiors contrast with rural scenes. An amusing shot of shaped triangular trees in a formal garden leads up to the final shot of a castle that demonstrates each of the four shapes. Identical double borders give a unified look to each page and focus the eye on the subjects. Another welcome addition, by one of the best in the field, to books that make mathematical concepts accessible. (Picture book. 3-5)