Shape Up!: Fun with Triangles and Other Polygons

By David A. Adler

Book Overview

A hands-on introduction to polygons that takes the fear out of math and puts the fun back in

Draw three dots on a piece of paper. Or maybe-- draw three dots on a slice of cheese. What happens when you connect the dots?

With bright, colorful illustrations and a simple, funny text, Shape Up introduces triangles, quadrangles, and other polygons to young readers, encouraging them to play along, and learn everything there is to know about shapes.

Explaining basic geometric concepts and offering definitions for important vocabulary, this introduction to shapes, lines, and angles is to good to miss-- even if the jokes can be a little . . . cheesy.

Created by a respected children's nonfiction author and former math teacher, this is a perfect grounding in basic shapes-- and a lot of fun, too.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823416380
• ISBN13: 9780823416387
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Holiday House
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 9.3" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Shape Up!

ISBN 0823413462 - I have to admit that I don't really want to give this book 4 stars. It bored me, badly, and I like to avenge my boredom. However... it deserves 4 stars. This isn't an exciting adventure tale or a humorous story, it's actually educational - and in a way that will be easier for reluctant geometry students to enjoy. Not to mention learn from! Start with two slices of American cheese, a toothpick, pretzel sticks, plain paper, graph paper, a pencil, a plastic knife and a slice of bread. Sounds fun already, doesn't it? Surprisingly, it is. The pages contain directions for creating various shapes using the items above. The shapes, beginning with triangles and going all the way to dodecagons (12 sided polygons), are defined and explained in simple terms. I hate geometry, which is part of why the book bored me. On the other hand, author David A. Adler has created a good tool for teaching math to kids who hate geometry as much as I do! Despite the fact that it looks like a little childrens' book, from the size and shape of it to the bright, cartoon-y cover, the book is aimed at 9-12 year olds. They get to play with their food and learn at the same time - and anything that makes math easier for us anti-geometry people has to be a good thing, right? Illustrations by Nancy Tobin compliment the text, showing the shapes Adler describes. Worthwhile for teachers and homeschooling parents, in particular. - AnnaLovesBooks