Cones

Children's Literature - Melissa J. Rickey

This is the first in the "3-D Shapes" book series designed to support early readers' understanding of mathematical shapes such as cones. Simple and direct sentences are matched with brightly colored, full-page photographs to facilitate comprehension and provide clear examples of cones in a child's everyday world. An early sentence reads: "The base of a cone is a circle and the top comes to a point…. A cone is made of a circle and a part of another circle called a sector. These two flat shapes make the cone's net." This is followed by "Playing with Cones": "Tops are toy cones that spin and whirl"; "Outdoor Cones": "Orange-and-white traffic cones guide drivers on the road"; and "All Kinds of Cones," including "The one holding your favorite flavor of ice cream, of course!" A section called "It's a Fact" details where cone shapes can be found around the world, from hats worn in Viet Nam to the horns of the endangered rhinoceros. A "Hands On" feature provides directions for making a cone friend named Conrad. Additional features include a table of contents, clear chapter headings, a glossary, a resource guide, and an index. This book can be used as a read aloud in primary math lessons and can also be read independently by early readers. Reviewer: Melissa J. Rickey