Square

Square

ISBN13

9781406378658

Review published

23/05/2018

By Reviewer

Ellen

Star Rating

(5)

By Author / Illustrator

Mac Barnett, illus Jon Klassen

Age range(s)

5+

Review

Square is the follow-up book to Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, in which Triangle plays a trick on his friend Square. This latest picture book takes us into more philosophical territory, exploring the nature of art and what makes an artist, and is again beautifully illustrated by Barnett. Square has a secret cave and each day, he goes into his cave, takes a block from the pile inside, and pushes it outside to join the other blocks he has already removed from his cave. 'This is his work'. However, when Circle sees his latest block, she believes it to be sculpture. "It looks just like you!" she says, and demands he makes a sculpture for her. But when Square does start to carve the rock, it falls apart. "Whatever is the opposite of perfect, that is what this is!" Square bewails. But something happens overnight that makes Square's efforts seem 'perfect' to Circle. Square has, accidentally, created a work of art - at least, that is what Circle believes because to Circle, it is perfect, and this can make a brilliant start to sharing different kinds of artwork with children and exploring the question of what makes something 'art', and subjectivity. So although the story and its humour can be shared with younger children, and open up discussions about what is 'work', it can also be used with older children aged seven and up to begin a much more sophisticated discussion around what is art? This can be taken forwards to explore sculptors like Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth who, like Square, also sculpt with stone. And because Square is such a hapless artists, the story can be used to encourage children who don't see themselves as 'artistis' to make their own 'soap sculptures' or paper mache shapes. In short, Square is itself a 'perfect' story for discussing art that can be taken in many different directions. Highly recommended. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Ellen Green.