Storytime shapes – inspire mark making with books about lines and circles

Your toddler is becoming more able to control their fine motor movements, and is now linking their movements to the marks they make. They will still need some help to recall what they are drawing, so might enjoy watching you draw then copying you. These three sweet books about line and shape will inspire lots of imagination next time you draw together.  

A Line Can Be... by Laura Ljungkvist  

This board book from artist Laura Ljungkvist not only offers up plenty of ideas to feed your toddler’s imagination when they are next drawing, it also introduces some concepts around opposites in a meaningful way.  

Follow a line from the front cover through the book, and see it change from thick to thin, go up then down and even turn into a family portrait!  

You or your toddler can follow the line through the book with a finger, and let it inspire you to draw some wiggly, straight or even complicated lines together.  

Circle by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen 

This is the third book in a series all about a little group of shapes and their adventures. In this story, Circle, Square and Triangle begin by playing a game together – but Triangle’s adventurous spirit means Circle needs to set off on a rescue mission.  

Jon Klassen’s bold illustration style means your toddler has plenty of time to see how the different shapes are formed, and to trace around them with a finger as the adventure unfolds.  

You and your toddler might be inspired to tell a story about your own favourite shape, and work together on some simple illustrations featuring shapes and lines your toddler is interested in.  

TouchThinkLearn: Wiggles by Claire Zucchelli-Romer 

We love the TouchThinkLearn series; the strong board books last for years and the 3d shapes, or trails, for little fingers to follow on each page means your toddler can enjoy making themselves part of the storytime experience.  

Wiggles is no exception, with simple but striking shapes on each page, in bright colours, making it irresistible. Your toddler can follow the instructions on each page telling them about the shapes they’re tracing, or simply enjoy exploring the dots, lines and spirals, independently.  

If you feel inspired after reading, you and your toddler can make pictures with 3d trails to follow using glue and string, or keep it 2d by simply following lines and shapes they draw in crayon.  

This article contains affiliate links. MFFY may collect a share of sale or some form of commission from the links on this page if you decide to click them and purchase any items.