Circle, square, rectangle, triangle…Do you have a favorite shape? Explore these math books about shapes with children. They will be identifying shapes, counting sides and angles, and figuring out puzzles in no time.
Books About Shapes for Children
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Board Books About Shapes
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”9888240692″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41iIOEZYPTL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
A triangle could be a fox or a rat. What else could a triangle be? Find out in [easyazon_link identifier=”9888240692″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Triangle[/easyazon_link] by Yusuke Yonezu. Also, check out Circles and Squares.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1561459496″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51GGRV+2S4L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
If you have little ones who like the Stanley books, check out [easyazon_link identifier=”1561459496″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Stanley’s Shapes[/easyazon_link] by William Bee. Children will enjoy discovering shapes with this lovable hamster.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0735351198″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Jsl0QTH8L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
It’s a board book but you could easily use it with preschoolers. [easyazon_link identifier=”0735351198″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]My First Shapes with Frank Lloyd Wright book[/easyazon_link] is part shape awareness, part counting, part art, and part architecture introduction.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0694010677″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QdzbCPdcL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”490″]
Watch shapes turn into different things in [easyazon_link identifier=”0694010677″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Color Zoo[/easyazon_link] by Lois Ehlert.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0448489155″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513ICQol5fL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
The Hello, World series brings us [easyazon_link identifier=”0448489155″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Paris: Book of Shapes[/easyazon_link]. Children will find shapes at the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and more. This series also features other cities and basic concepts.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1593541384″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mnr3KRNyL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”496″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1593541384″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Flip-a Shape: Go![/easyazon_link] turns shapes into things that go just by turning the page.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1536206873″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513LJoeHUxL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”363″]
Food and shapes? Yes, please. Check out [easyazon_link identifier=”1536206873″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Frankie’s Food Truck[/easyazon_link]. Children will lift-the-flaps to reveal a shaped food on each spread.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0762466928″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5177l3WhPWL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0762466928″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Shapes of Spring[/easyazon_link] by Jill Hawarth is a seek-and-find for different shapes on each page spread with a springy theme.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1419739891″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fRNYf5ZuL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”333″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1419739891″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Mail Duck: A Book of Shapes and Surprises[/easyazon_link] by Erica Sirotich is a playful lift-the-flap book where special deliveries are made to different animals. Each animal loves a different shape from Trudy liking triangles to Omar liking ovals. When you lift the flap, more objects featuring that shape are revealed.
Picture Books About Shapes
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1627790578″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5106EbJQBeL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”489″]
Put shapes and discover all sorts of things in this creativity building book called [easyazon_link identifier=”1627790578″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Shape Shift[/easyazon_link] by Joyce Hesselberth. It’s great for talking about perspective, shapes, and imagination.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”498″ identifier=”0714876305″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41yAY9gQTBL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Imagine how shapes move in [easyazon_link identifier=”0714876305″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Circle Rolls[/easyazon_link] by Barbara Kanninen. Of course, circles roll and ovals rock. What about squares and triangles? Get ready to have some moving fun in this tale.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0763678287″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wIsvrEtAL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”488″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0763678287″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Now What? A Math Tale[/easyazon_link] by Robie H. Harris is all about shapes (rectangles, squares, and triangles) using blocks.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”484″ identifier=”1846866790″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61fX0Zsu9kL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Get kids up and moving with this sing-along book about shapes called The Shape Song Swingalong by Steve Songs.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”450″ identifier=”1481497219″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51yhC2n575L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1481497219″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Tangled[/easyazon_link] by Anne Miranda is a book about shapes but it also so much more. First, there is an engaging story that features the shapes as characters. And even more impressive is the message of problem-solving and working together to solve a problem. A win-win book!
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”412″ identifier=”0688147402″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51KFsgTp8qL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban contains photographs of objects all around us. It’s a good one for encouraging kids to look around and find objects that are different shapes around them.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1416971475″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51GeKGbL0ML.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”498″]
Watch a dinosaur appear shape by shape in [easyazon_link identifier=”1416971475″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Shape by Shape[/easyazon_link] by Suse MacDonald.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”408″ identifier=”1452155410″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61slE+fDuCL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1452155410″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes[/easyazon_link] by Hena Khan not only introduces us to shapes but to the Muslim religion.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”498″ identifier=”0763696080″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ChnQHwAwL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Mac Barnett’s shape trilogy of [easyazon_link identifier=”0763696072″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Square[/easyazon_link], [easyazon_link identifier=”076369603X” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Triangle[/easyazon_link], and [easyazon_link identifier=”0763696080″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Circle[/easyazon_link] are great read-alouds and discussion starters.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0061915130″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514w93d37wL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Next, try [easyazon_link identifier=”0061915130″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Perfect Square[/easyazon_link]by Michael Hall. What happens to a square when it transforms. Break out the square pieces of paper and art supplies because students will be inspired to do something with their own squares too.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”454″ identifier=”0062410849″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LbcyR8IqL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Circle and Square are friends and then Triangle arrives. Find out what happens next in [easyazon_link identifier=”0062410849″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Love, Triangle[/easyazon_link] by Marcie Colleen.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0545436826″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51GNCcwpx+L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”497″]
Another book about shape friends is [easyazon_link identifier=”0545436826″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Friendshape[/easyazon_link] by Amy Krause Rosenthall emphasizing the importance of having friends in our lives.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1452145687″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61n5r84OVsL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Roseanne Thong wrote [easyazon_link identifier=”1452145687″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Round is a Tortilla[/easyazon_link] which teaches about shapes using many items from the Latino culture. She also has [easyazon_link identifier=”1452136440″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Round is a Moon Cake[/easyazon_link]featuring Asian items.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1580898831″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51igSrDsYQL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”494″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1580898831″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]A Trapezoid is Not a Dinosaur[/easyazon_link] by Suzanne Morris is the story of a triangle holding auditions for the play. Are in shapes up for the part?
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”145213264X” locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41aDFzeJeUL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”370″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”145213264X” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Apples and Robins[/easyazon_link] by Lucie Felix uses simple shapes to create different objects from apples, to birds, to ladders. Just how many rectangles do you need to create a ladder?
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0544387619″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5190f5Vxc+L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0544387619″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Round[/easyazon_link] by Sidman invites us to look around us and discover all the things that are round from sunflowers, eggs, and planets. This is a great pick to follow up with a nature walk to seek out things that are round.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0316370924″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IQ58KRMPL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”391″]
Follow up with a walk outside by reading [easyazon_link identifier=”0316370924″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]City Shapes[/easyazon_link] by Diana Murray. This one celebrates the shapes of the city.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1481476459″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Ye581IekL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”408″]
A good choice for independent exploration in a math center would be Shapes by John Reiss.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1580899463″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xvj98vJsL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”499″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1580899463″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Which One Doesn’t Belong? Playing With Shapes[/easyazon_link]by Christopher Danielson is a book that will spark conversation (that is the purpose) with children about analyzing shapes and creating a defense for which shape doesn’t belong with the others. A good pick for one-on-one or in small group discussion.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”408″ identifier=”1328740536″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41sVW35t9DL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh works on shapes and colors. Check out the Mouse Shapes name activity we created to complement the book.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1101999829″ locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51WZSatty9L.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”471″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1101999829″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Sweet Shapes[/easyazon_link] by Juana Medina Rosas is a culinary shape delight. Different shaped sweet treats are transformed into forest animals. There’s a lot going on in a simple book.
Circle Round by Anne Sibley O’Brien is all about noticing the circles in nature from hula hoops to basketballs and counting them along the way. But, it’s also about forming a circle of acceptance and including others.
The Quest for a Tangram Dragon by Christine Liu-Perkins takes us a problem solving math adventure as the shapes work together to locate a rain dragon. The book includes a cut-out tangram puzzle so you can interact with the book.
Not a Dog by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez is the story of how prairie dogs grow and where they live. But, it’s also a book about learning about different shapes and what those shapes are called in Spanish.
Printable List of Shape Books
Yes, I do have a printable list of the books I shared above for you. It’s great to take to the library or tuck in your lesson plan file.
More Math Themed Books
Ready to move on from shapes? Check out these other great math-related and concept booklists.