Square

Starred review from April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-In their sequel to Triangle, the Barnett/Klassen dynamic duo follows the previously introduced character of Square. Every day Square pushes one square block from his cave to the top of a hill, adding to a pile of square rocks. "This is his work." One day, Circle floats by, and to Square's bewilderment, sees these square blocks as amazing sculptures-Square is a genius at self-portraits! She requests that he create a sculpture for her. Klassen's minimalist watercolor and graphite illustrations are effective in creating a space for the character's expressive eyes to stand out which enhances the book's underlying humor and sense of irony. Short sentences, a gripping plot, and great page turns make this both an excellent read-aloud and an approachable title for beginning readers. This book takes a sweeter turn from its prankish predecessor in that Square works hard to create something for Circle, only to feel like he failed; but when Circle sees what he created, she is "beguiled" once more by his genius. Though this title will stand alone, children familiar with Triangle might recognize the extra layer of humor at the end when an unnamed narrator poses a game-changer of a question. VERDICT A must purchase that will satisfy old fans and create new ones.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2018
In the wake of Triangle (2017), a further raft of ontological posers in stripped-down geometric garb.Square, an unreflective sort, regards hauling large cubes of rock from the depths of his secret cave to a hilltop every day as his "work." He is set to a new task, though, after Circle praises him as a "sculptor" and a "genius," then commissions a portrait. Cluelessly setting to with a hammer and chisel to carve a "perfect" representation of Circle from a stone block, Square is left at the end of the day in the middle of a ring of rubble. Despairingly, he falls asleep as rain begins to fall. Next morning the despair is still there--so when Circle floats up and sees her reflection in the puddle that's accumulated overnight her response is unexpected: "It is perfect," she says. "You are a genius." Barnett's closing "But was he really?" leaves readers (those who have the appropriate patience and experience, anyway) to judge for themselves. Square's downcast eyes as he looks at his own reflection in the puddle heighten the ambiguity. With typically deceptive minimalism Klassen places a few flat, blocky shapes on the white pages to suggest the physical landscape, angling Square's body and glance to convey the emotional one. Humor is in the details: a bit of twig that catches on harried Square's head and stays there; the shadow that appears beneath Circle as she floats along through the air.For all its brevity, chockablock with philosophical topics to ponder and debate. (Picture book. 10-adult)

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Starred review from March 5, 2018
Square, who squabbled with Triangle in the first volume of Barnett and Klassen’s Shape trilogy, suffers from a case of imposter syndrome in this second picture book offering. Circle sees Square pushing stone blocks one after the other to the top of a hill among huge, ghostly boulders. She mistakes them for self-portraits—“You are a genius! I did not know you were a sculptor!”—and insists that Square must make a sculpture of her. Anxiety overwhelms him. Slashes of rain cut across the spreads as the stone disintegrates under his hammer and chisel, amid his growing despair. In the morning, his circular pile of rubble holds a pool of rainwater, which reflects Circle’s image as she gazes downward. “It is perfect,” Circle gushes. “You are a genius.” Is Circle a good friend who sees the worth in Square’s work that he can’t see himself? Or is she just a flatterer? Poor Square isn’t sure, and readers aren’t, either. Square’s efforts to please are equal parts hilarious and cringeworthy, and the moment he topples over in exhaustion is comic gold. The story’s decidedly ambiguous conclusion leaves the door open for questions about what it means to be an artist—and that’s the whole point. Ages 5–9. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

March 1, 2018
Preschool-G Readers will remember Square as the victim of a sneaky trick in Triangle (2017), but here they find him peacefully at work, contentedly pushing square-shaped blocks up a hill. He's interrupted when Circle floats by and mistakes Square's rock pile for fine art. Convinced he is a genius sculptor, Circle tells him to make a sculpture of herself by the next day and drifts away before Square has time to respond. Having only just learned what a sculptor is, Square eyes a block, pulls out a hammer and chisel, and starts tentatively chipping away at it. He works into the night and through a rainstorm, until all that's left of the block are some very un-circle-like fragments, and there's nothing to be done but lie down in a puddle in defeat. But the morning reveals he might be a genius after all. Funny and lightly philosophical, Barnett's story gets an extra punch of hilarity with Klassen's minimalist graphite-and-watercolor artwork. A must for Triangle fans that will leave them wondering how this geometric drama will end.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This tireless, award-winning creative team works deadpan magic like no other, and fans will scoop up this second installment in a planned trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
The Barnett-Klassen tag team is back with a companion book to Triangle (rev. 5/17), told through the collaborators' signature meld of earthy, textured images and witty, thoughtful narrative. Square spends his days pushing square-shaped boulders from the bottom of his cave up to the top of a hill. One day, seeing a resemblance between Square and the block he's moving, Square's friend Circle declares that Square is an artistic genius. Before Square knows it, he has agreed to create a sculpture in Circle's likeness. But he is woefully unprepared for the job. Or is he? As Square struggles to understand and meet Circle's expectations (staying up all night in the pouring rain to attempt to chisel a perfect circle from a square stone block), he experiences a range of emotions that build until Circle returns the next morning to see Square's creation. Barnett's text is funny and profound, raising philosophical questions about intent, genius, and truth. Klassen's trademark eyes do a lot of emotive work amid the spare, fantastical setting. Angled lines (in the rocks, plants, and slanting rain) and white space direct readers' own eyes across each page or spread, and short sentences, smart dialogue, and word repetition keep the story moving at a steady pace. Readers looking for a compelling read-aloud will not be disappointed. elisa gall

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2018
In a companion book to Triangle, Square pushes square boulders to a hilltop. Seeing a resemblance between Square and the block he's pushing, his friend Circle calls Square an artistic genius. Before Square knows it, he's agreed to create a sculpture in Circle's likeness. Angled lines and white space direct readers' eyes across each page, and short sentences, smart dialogue, and word repetition keep the story steadily moving.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)