My Shape is Sam

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.

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.

Lydia Nichols is a full-time illustrator and anthropomorphizer. A Google doodler, she has a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University and an MFA in Graphic Design from Tyler School of Art. She’s convinced her natural red hair is her superpower, and she lives in Oakland, California. This is her debut picture book.