Circle by Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen
Published by Candlewick Press on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 0763696080
Pages: 48
Goodreads

Team Barnett and Klassen are back in the third book of the shape series (Triangle and Square being the first two). In this book, the three friends play a game of hide-and-seek in which Circle is clear about the rules, don’t go behind the waterfall. The reason: it’s dark. Square follows the rules; Triangle does not and Circle is forced to face her fear and look for her friend.  In their signature style of simplicity with a touch of wisdom and a sprinkle of humor, Barnett and Klassen have, once again, used their shape characters to tell the story of the trickiness that comes with navigating friendship, of facing fears, and of the leaps of imagination we can make when forced with the unknown. In the end, Triangle is found and forgiven for breaking the rules and perhaps, just perhaps, a new shape will enter the world at the deft hands of these two authors who can speak volumes with so few words and a few touches of graphite. Highly recommend, especially where the other shape books exist in a collection though neither of the other shape books is necessary for readers to enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth