Cubes

Children's Literature - Melissa J. Rickey

This is part of the "3-D Shapes" book series designed to support early readers' understanding of mathematical shapes such as cubes. Simple and direct sentences are matched with brightly colored, full-page photographs to facilitate comprehension and provide clear examples of cubes in children's everyday worlds. An early sentence defines a cube: "The top, bottom, and sides of a cube are equal squares. Each side is called a face. The side that a cube sits on is called its base." This is followed by examples of "Playing with Cubes": "Cubes called dice have tiny dots on each side"; "Tasting Cubes": "Toasted bread cubes are called croutons. They add a tasty crunch to soup"; and "All Kinds of Cubes": including "A giant cube [that] lets you rest your feet while you read." An "It's a Fact" section lists interesting information about cube shapes in food, boxfish, and a Rubik's Cube. A "Hands On" feature provides directions for making a cube friend named Cubby. Additional features included 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