Pick a Circle, Gather Squares

June 24, 2013
Chernesky debuts with an autumnal picture book that prompts readers to find shapes in a pumpkin patch as they accompany a visiting family. “Gather ovals! Squash and corn./ Speckled eggs nest in the barn,” she writes as Swan deploys an array of patterns and textures—wood grain, filigree, photographs of hay—in a interior scene with plenty of ovoid eggs, prize ribbons, and corn kernels for kids to point out. Chicken wire hexagons, a triangular slice of apple pie, and scarecrows dressed in polka dots and plaid add to the homey, down-on-the-farm mood, and Chernesky’s bubbly rhymes keep the story moving swiftly. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Susan Hawk, the Bent Agency.

August 15, 2013
A father-daughter-son trip to the pumpkin patch is an opportunity to point out shapes while enjoying the sights and tastes of the season. In her debut, Chernesky goes beyond the basics--circles, squares, rectangles and triangles--by including ovals, diamonds, hexagons, hearts and stars. Each shape is given a double-page spread on which it predominates, though others can be picked out, too. This presents plot problems. The family is supposedly on a hayride to the pumpkin patch, but inexplicably, it is often seen not on a wagon--they stop to fly kites, investigate honeycombs, peek in the barn and don't even appear on the pages devoted to rectangles. The verse sometimes limps, but the text helps beginning readers by highlighting the shape words as well as one related vocabulary word: "Gather OVALS! Squash and corn. / Speckled EGGS nest in the barn." Swan's artwork, which appears to be digital and collage, is full of textures and patterns, fall colors dominating the palette. But the contrast among the elements sometimes overwhelms the page design, the scenes a hodgepodge of elements that don't always meld (people's faces seem to be the worst offenders). This is neither the best shape book nor the best fall book out there, though if teachers are looking to combine the topics, this may be a good choice. (Picture book. 2-5)

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September 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-It's autumn and a father and his two children are off to the pumpkin patch. On their way, the youngsters notice all of the different shapes associated with fall: "On our hayride to the patch/while we bump along we'll match/different shapes to what we see./Will you harvest them with me?" The rhyme scheme flows smoothly and would be great fun as a read-aloud. The cut-paper collages are a standout, rich in texture, and with a vibrant seasonal palette. A wide variety of shapes is covered, including some unusual ones: "hexagons in honeycombs/and chicken wire where foxes roam." While there are many books about shapes and many about autumn and pumpkin picking, this effective combination of the two deserves a place on most shelves.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
A trip to the pumpkin patch turns into a harvesting of another sort as a father and his children invite readers to look for shapes along the way. The rhyming text, though sometimes forced, is celebratory, and the (busy-looking) digitally enhanced collages burst with autumn colors and rich texture. A festive addition to a seasonal collection.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)