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Squarehead
George only likes things that are square like himself until a dream in which he floats off into outer space and encounters all sorts of nonsquare objects reminds him of how nice round can be.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2001
9 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Ziefert
686 books56 followersHarriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.
"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 21, 2017
Summary:
"SquareHead" is about a little boy named George, who lives in a square world. In the beginning of the book, George explains how he has a square head, sees square dogs, square cats, and has square friends. George explains how he loves his square life and doesn't like anything round. For example, George says he hates eggs, baseballs, and anything else that is not square. One night, George goes to sleep and starts dreaming. His dream takes him to another world where things are round. For example, George witnesses the sun, moon, ringed planets and the earth. At the end of the book, George realizes how cool the world is when there are round things.
Theme(s):
The themes of this book are acceptance and differences/diversity.
Star rating:
I'm rating this book three stars because the content is not very rich, but the pictures and words were fun to read. Personally, I wish the illustrations and the words would send a stronger message of acceptance and differences to children, but the author got the point across.
Personal response:
I was really excited to read this book because the cover looked unique. "Squarehead" starts off well because I got to know the character, George. At the beginning, I had a self-to-text connection with George because he only liked the things he was exposed to. For example, when I was little I only played with Barbie dolls and did not like playing with Legos and trucks when I was at school. I think I didn't like playing with the Legos and trucks because I wasn't exposed to them when I was very little. Even though I connected with George at the beginning, I thought the end of the book was quite shallow and not very engaging. The ending has simple pictures, but the message of accepting differences could have been stronger. I thought it was a very rushed ending when George said this new world was cool. Part of me wishes the author could have expanded on why a different world was cool and reflect on George's closed off mind he had at the beginning of the text. Additionally, it bothered me how George said he lived in an all square world, but his fingers were totally round. I wonder if George was ever scared of his fingers? Overall, this book has fun pictures and there is a good message behind these simple images.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to 2nd through 3rd graders. The illustrations of the different shapes are engaging and the moral of the story is something children need to take with them to adulthood.
"SquareHead" is about a little boy named George, who lives in a square world. In the beginning of the book, George explains how he has a square head, sees square dogs, square cats, and has square friends. George explains how he loves his square life and doesn't like anything round. For example, George says he hates eggs, baseballs, and anything else that is not square. One night, George goes to sleep and starts dreaming. His dream takes him to another world where things are round. For example, George witnesses the sun, moon, ringed planets and the earth. At the end of the book, George realizes how cool the world is when there are round things.
Theme(s):
The themes of this book are acceptance and differences/diversity.
Star rating:
I'm rating this book three stars because the content is not very rich, but the pictures and words were fun to read. Personally, I wish the illustrations and the words would send a stronger message of acceptance and differences to children, but the author got the point across.
Personal response:
I was really excited to read this book because the cover looked unique. "Squarehead" starts off well because I got to know the character, George. At the beginning, I had a self-to-text connection with George because he only liked the things he was exposed to. For example, when I was little I only played with Barbie dolls and did not like playing with Legos and trucks when I was at school. I think I didn't like playing with the Legos and trucks because I wasn't exposed to them when I was very little. Even though I connected with George at the beginning, I thought the end of the book was quite shallow and not very engaging. The ending has simple pictures, but the message of accepting differences could have been stronger. I thought it was a very rushed ending when George said this new world was cool. Part of me wishes the author could have expanded on why a different world was cool and reflect on George's closed off mind he had at the beginning of the text. Additionally, it bothered me how George said he lived in an all square world, but his fingers were totally round. I wonder if George was ever scared of his fingers? Overall, this book has fun pictures and there is a good message behind these simple images.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to 2nd through 3rd graders. The illustrations of the different shapes are engaging and the moral of the story is something children need to take with them to adulthood.
November 21, 2017
diverse picture books (shapes / preschoolers age 2-5)
* book prominently features diverse cast - yes; Squarehead's skin is a lifelike (if varying) shade of brown; the family (in his imagination?) of squareheads appear in rainbow colors.
* book would work for Preschool storytime - yes; it's a little long for toddlers, but the story and colorful shape-filled illustrations would entertain preschoolers (ages 3-5, maybe older toddlers 2+).
* Book works with theme (colors and shapes). Great juxtaposition of square angles and round shapes, though this is not a didactic "this is a square, this is a circle, this is a triangle" type of book.
* book prominently features diverse cast - yes; Squarehead's skin is a lifelike (if varying) shade of brown; the family (in his imagination?) of squareheads appear in rainbow colors.
* book would work for Preschool storytime - yes; it's a little long for toddlers, but the story and colorful shape-filled illustrations would entertain preschoolers (ages 3-5, maybe older toddlers 2+).
* Book works with theme (colors and shapes). Great juxtaposition of square angles and round shapes, though this is not a didactic "this is a square, this is a circle, this is a triangle" type of book.
September 20, 2017
Shape Story Time. Squarehead has a square head. He only likes things that are square. Acceptance of differences. Good message but not engaging.
August 2, 2011
And the moral of the story is: Don't be square minded. Square headed is totally exceptable though.
March 21, 2014
Need to remember this one when I do a shapes Storytime.
August 5, 2016
The ending ends too quickly, I think it should have been concluded differently. Otherwise a cute story.
October 12, 2016
Bizarre. I liked the surrealist (cubist?) nature of this one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews