Patterns

Children's Literature

A part of the "Spyglass Book" series, this book, as the title suggests, focuses on patterns. Hammersmith first defines what a pattern is, then discusses the various kinds of patterns that exist in our world. Zebras, quilts, checkerboards and corn mazes are some of the examples presented. As well as showing children a variety of patterns, this book also includes the reasons why certain patterns are of value. For example, the black-and-white striped pattern found on zebras helps protect them from their predators. Bright-colored patterns are often used to keep people safe so that they can be easily seen or found. Spiders even use a pattern when spinning their webs, to make them stronger. A great extension for a math or art class, this user-friendly book has large print which makes it suitable for early readers. New vocabulary words appear in bold the first time they are mentioned, which can be helpful when building vocabulary. Like other books in this series, this book is complete with a table of contents, a glossary and an index. Children are also given Web sites and the names of other books to learn more about the topic. Each page is filled with a variety of colorful illustrations that range from drawings and maps to photographs. In addition to the illustrations, there are also fun facts included on most of the pages. 2003, Compass Point Books, Ages 4 to 7.
— Cara Mulcahy

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Designed especially for students with developing reading skills, both titles align with national curriculum standards in math. Hammersmith shows how repeating colors and shapes create patterns all around us. Using age- and content-appropriate vocabulary, Scott describes various shapes from circles to stars to sneaky shapes, which are really optical illusions. Illustrated with bright, bold photographs, each title presents the concept in an attractive manner. The books are useful for educators, but Tana Hoban's books of shapes, colors, and symbols are more imaginative.-Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.