about the book
Two children explore their brightly colored Latino neighborhood and discover ordinary everyday objects with all sorts of geometrical shapes.
The sombreros are round, as are the moon, campanas (bells) nests, tortilla, tacos, and even Abuelo’s stew pot. Triangles turn out to be a very tasty treat: chips and guacamole! They have no trouble at all finding rectangles. They are all around—windows!
After each series of shapes that are spied, the children chant “how many more…can you find?”
But while you look for the shapes, don’t miss the whimsical things hidden in drawings—such as celestial ornaments dangling from an avocado tree and even a mermaid.
After reading the book, little listeners will love finding and counting the different shapes in their own world.
about the author
Roseanne Thong grew up in Fountain Valley in southern California and began composing poems when she was just four. Since she wasn’t allowed to get out of bed until 7:00 a.m., she kept a pad of paper and a pencil by her bedside so she could write until the rest of the family woke up.
Her parents sent some of her poems to the local paper, and they were published. Imagine being published while you are still a kid! She kept on writing and earned a bachelor’s in journalism at Cal State Fullerton, teaching credentials from Cal State Long Beach, a master’s in American studies and English as a second language from the U.S. International University, and a PhD in education from Leicester.
Roseanne worked for several newspapers but loved to travel, so she accepted a teaching job in Taiwan. Since then, she has taught in Guatemala (where she learned Spanish) and Vietnam. Currently she teaches English in Hong Kong.
She has lived abroad for more than 15 years. She married a Chinese man who was born in Malaysia, and their daughter has family in three different countries! Roseanne could not find books and toys that fit her daughter’s heritage. So she decided that she would write her own books. The first one featured an Asian background, while Round is a Tortilla speaks about Latino culture.
In addition to writing children’s picture books, Roseanne also enjoys writing adult fiction and poetry. Her work is truly international!
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: Paddy Field
Author interview: Little One Books
Also by Roseanne Greenfield Thong:
Green Is a Chile Pepper : A Book of Colors. Chronicle Books 2014.
Fly Free!. Boyds Mills Press. 2010.
Gai See : What You Can See in
Chinatown. Harry Abrams. 2007.
The Wishing Tree. Shens Books. 2004.
Round Is a Mooncake : A Book of Shapes. Chronicle Books. 2000.
about the illustrator
While growing up in the California foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains overlooking the Pacific, John Parra spent most of his days exploring the landscape and wildlife around him. These were often subjects for his many drawings, but he also sketched his family and things related to his Hispanic roots and culture. He was influenced by Latino customs, music, and dance, as well as Mexican mural and folk artists.
John went on to graduate with honors from the prestigious Art Center College of Design and now works as a fine artist, illustrator, designer, and educator. His paintings have been showcased in numerous galleries and private collections throughout the United States and abroad. He has taught at the Carnegie Museum and speaks regularly at primary schools and universities, advocating art and reading education. He is also known for his award-winning illustrations for Latino-themed children’s books.
Currently, John lives in Queens, New York, with his wife Maria. Every day in his studio, he uses influences from his childhood as inspiration to explore the themes of family and spirituality that lie close to his heart.
Sources:
Illustrator website
Illustrator biography: Vicki Prentice Associates
Also illustrated by John Parra:
Green Is a Chile Pepper : A Book of Colors by Roseanne Thong. Chronicle Books. 2014.
Waiting for the BIblioburro by Monica Brown. Tricycle Press. 2011.
Gracias = Thanks by Pat Mora. Lee & Low Books. 2009.
P Is for Pinata : A Mexico Alphabet by Tony Johnston. Sleeping Bear Press. 2008.
My Name is Gabriela = Me llamo Gabriela : The Life of Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown. Luna Rising. 2005.
read more!
Green Is a Chile Pepper : A Book of Colors by Roseanne Thong
Using things every child can find around the house, this rhyming book explores the world of colors with an eye toward the Latino culture. The children discover red spices and swirling skirts; yellow masa, tortillas and sweet corn cakes; and green chili peppers and cilantro in the cooking pot!
Pick a Circle, Gather Squares : A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Sanza Chernesky
A father and his two children are off to the farm, where the youngsters find all sorts of shapes associated with autumn. They go on a hayride and visit the pumpkin patch. There are oval eggs, hexagonal chicken fencing, triangular slices of apple pie, and even polka dots on the scarecrow.
When a Line Bends…A Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene
“A line is thin. A line is narrow? Curved like a worm, straight as an arrow.” In this book, as the line bends, shapes are formed, ten in all, accompanied with bouncy rhyming text. There are ovals, crescents, diamonds, stars and much more. And each verse takes the shape it describes!