Circles were smooth and round. Good at rolling, spinning, and pushing. They all turned together to make things go. Squares were sturdy and even. Good at stacking, steadying, and measuring. They all fit together to make things stay. In a world where everybody is a shape and every shape has a specific job, Sam is a square who longs for softer corners, rounder edges, and the ability to roll like a circle. But everyone knows that squares don’t roll, they stack. At least that’s what everyone thinks until the day Sam takes a tumble and discovers something wonderful. He doesn’t have to be what others want or expect him to be. With playful imagery, this story considers identity and nonconformity through the eyes of Sam, a square struggling to find his true place in the world.

What Kind of Book is My Shape is Sam

Topics

shapes colors being different self-esteem and self-reliance social themes self-esteem individuality first concepts size and shape identity

Genres

fiction

Reviews

The Notorious RAD

5.00

Book Lists That Include My Shape is Sam

Books about being different

Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse

Books about colors

Books about shapes

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Amanda Jackson

Amanda Jackson, debut author, journaled and wrote poetry growing up, and this love of writing evolved into picture books as an adult. She has a bachelor’s degree in human development and more than ten years of experience working with children. She moved more than ten times as a child, but she now calls Beaverton, Oregon, home.

Illustrator

Lydia Nichols

Lydia Nichols is an illustrator and anthropomorphizer with a fondness for tea time with books and a plan to eventually visit all of National Parks. When not illustrating happy-go-lucky animals, she’s likely doodling them on post-it notes and scrap paper. People describe her work as charming and whimsical. They describe her as redheaded. Her two kitties are aspiring Art Directors and often offer feedback in form of purrs while stomping across her keyboard.