One Whole Hippopotamus: A Book About Parts and Patterns

PreS-Gr 2–Shape, color, size, quantity, pattern, and likeness are explored in this early learning concept book, the third of its kind from Higgins (Some of These Are Snails). Starting with simple blue circles that are changing size and patterns, a series of questions are posed. What is the same? What is different? How many are there, and what makes it a set? Triangles, rectangles, shapes of all manner are posed and decomposed, sorted and shifted, compared and contrasted. Ice cream cones explain the concept of more and less, fruit demonstrates what “equal” means. How are “half” of a cat and “half” of a giraffe similar, and different? Bold and colorful Eric Carle–esque cut-paper illustrations are visually appealing and drive the discussion. Text is minimal, and white space abounds. A school room of children will be eager to fill the void with countless individual answers to each query, as there’s room for interpretation from multiple perspectives.