When I decided to update my Vocabulary Units, I knew I wanted to include some interactive read-alouds. It is so important to read high quality, engaging texts to all students - English Language Learners are no exception. I was looking for books that would interest students, provide opportunities for discussions, and included rich vocabulary. I also wanted books that weren't too long so that primary level students would attend throughout the story. While I read and loved many shape themed books - these five were my final choices.
Snippets: A Story About Paper Shapes by Diane Alber
This adorable book is simple yet profound. The shapes in paper place are all perfect polygons – squares and triangles. They build perfect houses. One day a Snippet comes along and challenges them to think outside the box. Snippets by Diane Alber is full of rich vocabulary like distinctive, gleaming, and unique. The illustrations are simple, but very interesting. This is a book which should be read more than once, to truly understand the lessons it’s teaching us.
Discussion Questions
p. 1-2 Look at the triangles and the squares – what do you notice? Do they look happy? The author uses the word ‘mundane’ – it means not very interesting, boring
p. 5-6 The blue Snippet wants to help Square and Triangle make houses, but Square sends him away. Why doesn’t Square want to work with Snippet? The word ‘asymmetrical’ means shapes who aren’t the same on all sides.
p. 9-10 Snippet was feeling sad after being sent away by Square. How does he feel now? How do you know? What changed?
p. 13-14 Snippet decides to try again. What does he want for all of the shapes? The word ‘unique’ means special, or unlike anything else.
p. 19-20 Snippet jumps on a triangle roof to be a chimney. How does Square react? What do you think might happen next?
p. 25-26 Look at the town they were able to make! What do you notice? How is Square feeling now?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students can draw and house using many shapes, then write about their drawing.
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
This simple text is perfect for young children learning their shapes. Three mice hide from a cat in a pile of shapes. Once the cat has gone away, they use the shapes to make everyday objects like a wagon and a book. They have to abandon their fun briefly when the cat reappears, but then they come up with a plan to scare him away for good! Mouse Shapes is a perfect concept book for little learners.
Discussion Questions
p. 1 Why are the mice running away from the cat? What do you know about cats and mice?
p. 4-5 Where are the mice hiding? What shapes do you see? What colors do you see?
p. 10-11 Violet says, “…any shape with three sides is a triangle.” Did you know that? Looking at the triangles – what makes them different?
p. 16-17 Why does Martin think their shape cat is better than the real cat?
p. 22-23 Look at the mouse in the middle – he is making a leg. What shape was the orange piece? Could he have used different pieces for the legs?
p. 26-27 Their plan worked! How do you think the little mice are feeling now?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students will identify the story elements. There is a whole-group or individual option.
Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood
Walter is a little spider trying to make himself a nice sturdy web. No matter what he does though the web always blows away in the wind. He tries making a triangle web, and a square web. He even tried a circle web, but nothing worked. Walter finally figures out how to make a strong and sturdy web. Walter's Wonderful Web is an adorable book about perseverance as well as shapes. The illustrations are clear, colorful and fun. This is a perfect book for children learning their shapes.
Discussion Questions
p. 1 Walter wants to build a web. Why do spiders build webs? What do they use the webs for?
p. 10 Walter is going to make a longer web this time. What shape do you get if you make a square longer?
p. 17-18 Do you think a round web is a good idea? What shape would a round web be? What shape are spider webs usually?
p. 21-22 How is Walter feeling? How do you know he is feeling that way? What do you think Walter should do now?
p. 23-24 Look around Walter’s web – where is he building his web? Do you think in a tree is a good place for a web? Why or why not? Where have you seen spider webs?
p. 25-26 Walter finally finished his wonderful web! What do you notice about Walter’s wonderful web? What shapes do you see?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students will identify Walter’s character traits. There is an individual option and pieces for an anchor chart included.
City Shapes by Diana Murray, illustrated by Bryan Collier
City Shapes by Diana Murray is a lyrical text that explores the city from a bird’s view. Each set of pages introduces typical scenes from a city and the shapes present in them. From square packages to round tires, and a circle nest – each shape is represented many times. The illustrations are beautiful collages which make use of every bit of the page. This book is perfect for every student, whether they live in the city or country.
Discussion Questions
before reading This book is all about the shapes you can see in the city. What things can you see in a city? What shapes are those?
p. 2-3 This page talks about a mail truck, a pretzel cart, and packages. What shapes are those things?
p. 14-15 These pages were about round circles. What else do you see in the pictures that is a circle?
p. 22-23 Here we see a park with the city in the background. Many people in the park are flying kites. Have you ever flown a kite? What helps a kite fly?
p. 28-29 The pigeon is home in her nest. In the background you can see the city skyline. What shapes do you notice?
after reading Think about your neighborhood – what do you see in your neighborhood and what shape is it?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students will identify things they can see in the city. There is a whole-group or individual option.
Ship Shapes by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Siobhan Bell
Two friends (and a loyal pup) set sail on a shape-filled adventure on the high seas. They encounter all different kinds of boats, even a pirate ship! The book is written in questions to answer. Readers are invited to identify and count shapes. The illustrations tell the story of submarines and treasure chests. The images are created with fabric and sewing notions. The uniqueness of the images will delight everyone.
Discussion Questions
This book is written as questions to the reader. Stop after each page to allow students to answer those questions.
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students can draw a boat and describe its shapes.
If you are looking for these discussion questions and activities ready-to-print and use please check them out in either my Shapes Vocabulary Unit or my Shapes Read-Alouds resource in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Find a free download of shapes themed books by signing up below.
If you chose to read any of these books with your students I'd love to hear about it! You can e-mail me at TeachingEternity@gmail.com, or connect with me on Instagram, @TeachingEternity.
