Circles and Spheres; Squares and Cubes

'The World of Shapes' is very much a participation series with the reader encouraged to consider and investigate the ideas presented in text and illustrations.

Beginning with an explanation of the nature of each shape, the text proceeds to an examination of its appearance in the natural and man-made environment, inviting the reader to test statements by carrying out simple activities and exploring shapes in the wide range of colour photographs.

The books are well designed (although the margins of colourful patterns may be an acquired taste) and they each contain a brief bibliography, glossary and index. Strangely the glossary in Circles and Spheres includes a definition of Tadpole (though tadpoles are not mentioned in the text and surely need no explanation even for young children).

Their style and approach make both these books particularly valuable for classroom use.