Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Good-natured contest teaches kids about colors and shapes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Team 1 is a bunch of colors, and Team 2 is a group of white shapes outlined in black. The teams are battling to figure out whom the book is about. They each make their case and strut their stuff onstage in front of three judges: an alligator, the number 1, and the letter A (from 123 Versus ABC). "This book is already square! How can we lose?" asks a triangle.The primary colors mix and blend to create green, orange, and purple. Two triangles combine to make a square. And so it goes in a lively, accelerating one-upsmanship that leads to shapes getting colors and becoming a landscape of familiar items: houses, mountains, a sailboat's sail (triangles), trees, apples, wheels (circles), and so. They both win!
Is It Any Good?
SHAPES VERSUS COLORS is as exuberant as Mike Boldt's delightful 123 Versus ABC but slightly less engaging. The problem is that many of the interesting shapes may be lost on the little ones who can easily grasp the varied colors. How many 4-year-olds will have heard of a rhombus, a heptagon, or "irregular polygons"?
But the cute premise leads to an exciting reveal that shows shapes and colors in the real world, including the red octagon recognizable as a stop sign. And the friendly, triumphant conclusion underscores a message of appreciating each other's value.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about shapes. What shapes to you see inside your house or apartment? Which ones do you see out the window where you live?
What new shapes did you learn about in Colors Versus Shapes?
Did you know about mixing primary colors to make secondary colors? Try it with your own paint set. What color can you make from blue and yellow? Red and blue?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Mike Boldt
- Genre : Colors
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : August 12, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate