Round Is a Tortilla

Round Is a Tortilla introduces shapes through everyday objects in Latino culture, connecting children to math concepts through familiar items like tortillas, chapas, and sombreros. The rhyming text flows between English and Spanish words, creating natural bilingual learning opportunities. The illustrations by John Parra showcase vibrant scenes of children exploring their neighborhood and home life while discovering circles, squares, rectangles, and other geometric forms. The book includes a glossary of Spanish terms used throughout the story. This picture book celebrates Latino heritage while teaching basic geometry, demonstrating how culture and education can blend together seamlessly. The integration of mathematics with cultural elements creates an accessible entry point for young readers to connect with both subjects.

Readers appreciate this bilingual concept book for introducing shapes while incorporating Latino culture and Spanish vocabulary. Parents and teachers note it works well for both English and Spanish-speaking children, with one teacher commenting it "helps bridge cultural gaps in my diverse classroom." Liked: - Clear, rhythmic text that children can follow - Colorful illustrations depicting everyday objects - Natural integration of Spanish words with English context - Cultural authenticity in the foods and items featured - Educational value for shape recognition and language Disliked: - Some found the Spanish pronunciation guide lacking - A few noted the rhyme scheme occasionally feels forced Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (384 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (154 ratings) School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews both gave starred reviews, highlighting its effectiveness as both a shape and cultural learning tool.

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🌮 Author Roseanne Greenfield Thong lived in Mexico for several years, where she gained inspiration for many of her multicultural children's books. 📚 The book is written in a rhythmic pattern that helps children learn shapes while simultaneously introducing Spanish vocabulary words. 🎨 Illustrator John Parra won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award for his work on this book, recognizing his outstanding interpretation of Latino culture. 🔄 The story incorporates everyday objects from Latino culture to teach shapes, such as tortillas for circles and window grilles (rejas) for squares. 🗣️ The book includes a glossary that provides pronunciation guides and definitions for all Spanish words used throughout the story.