This story is excellent to use for elementary school children as an introduction to tangrams, as part of a geometry unit. Third graders were very intrigued by this book and the tangram activity- they had the option of cutting out the pieces and making different images, or going online to complete tangram puzzles. ( )

Little Soo asked Grandfather Tang to tell her a story. Using tangrams Grandfather tells a story of shifting animals until the story takes a dangerous turn to a hunter. The story exposes the readers to tangram puzzles and the manipulation of shapes in a delighful engaging way. (Even more fun if you have tangram pieces out to try and make the shapes while following along with story) ( )

Drawing on a Chinese form of storytelling with seven shapes cut from a square of paper, Tompert recounts the tale of two fox fairies. Parker's pen-and-watercolor art adds drama, while the tangram insets will motivate children to try their own versions

I enjoy reading this book with my students to teach them about shapes but also to teach them about friendship. This is a story about a grandfather telling his granddaughter a story about how two foxes transform themselves into different animals in order to beat each other in this game they play. They are trying to eat each other. In the end they realize this is a silly game and they go back to being foxes and friends. This fable has a great message for students. ( )

Any child who has sat down and listen to a family member share a story with them will be able to relate to this tale. I found this story to be quite unique as it told with the use of tangrams. I also liked how the concept of tangrams was explained but I would have preferred this explanation to be in the beginning of the text instead of at the end. The story of the foxes helps the readers to understand what it means to be human as well as conveys the main idea of the story which is: It is too late to prepare for danger when it is upon us. As a result of their brush with death, the foxes chose to ignore their pride and to be careful to avoid danger. ( )