The Story of Shapes
Living in their own separate communities, residents of the Circle village and the Triangle village begin to cooperate when a storm brings them together. Eventually, even the residents of the elitist Square village see how embracing differences can help them create beautiful things and accomplish more than they would have dreamt possible. The Story of Shapes is a heartwarming tale that teaches young readers the power of diversity, teamwork, and seeing beyond differences to collectively become something greater than they have ever imagined. Parents, educators, and school leaders will value this story to initiate deeper discussions and illustrate the concept of 'stronger together.'
Click above to listen to an interview of
Robb Killen on The Author's Show (10-15-25)
Click above for an interview transcript with Atmosphere Press
Available
Now!
What people are saying...
"In a world where differences between groups of people are used to create division, Dr. Robb Killen reminds us that we can celebrate inherent differences and find common ground to create a more compassionate, beautiful world. Using whimsical Circles, Squares, and Triangles, The Story of Shapes is a useful tool for families, educators, and mental health providers to bring us back to the concept that we are stronger when we come together through Kindness.”
-Houston Kraft, Co-founder of CharacterStrong; Author of Deep Kindness & Be Kind
“As someone who’s had the joy of knowing Dr. Robb Killen for over 30 years, I can say his book reflects the same joviality, heart, and wisdom he brings to everything he does. With his knack for humor and witty dialogue, Dr. Robb Killen delivers a story that offers young readers a playful yet heartfelt realization: that together…IS BETTER! With playful banter and a lively cast of circles, squares and triangles that initially feel their differences should divide them, Dr. Killen crafts a tale that helps these shapes and the reader see the intrinsic value in differences and the magic that happens when we all come together! A perfect book for helping children understand the power of collaboration and a must-read for every young mind learning to appreciate themselves and others!”
-Janet Ivey-Duensing, Creator and CEO of Janet's Planet and 2022 American Astronautical Society's recipient of Sally K Ride Excellence in Education Award
"The Story of Shapes does a fantastic job weaving friendship and inclusion together with the mathematics of geometry. This clever book not only tells a captivating and poignant story, but also introduces kids to vocabulary and facts from geometry. Vocabulary has often been a hurdle to students' understanding of mathematics. Books such as The Story of Shapes can introduce and reinforce these important mathematical terms and lead to future success. Adults can also enjoy the creative illustrations and witty puns that Dr. Killen sprinkles throughout the book. High praise to Dr. Killen for crafting a must-have book for any home and school!"
-Dr. Sarah Ann Fleming
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Belmont University
"Brilliant, fun, and educational for all ages! Our family loves it!"
~Houston Phillps
Curb/Word Entertainment
"I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Robb Killen for several years and I can attest that his heart has always been to educate and inspire children to become people of dignity. He has done that again through this wonderful book, The Story of Shapes. Our world is longing for a solution to conflict. In this book, Dr. Killen has beautifully reminded us that the solution is not uniformity and segregation, but rather unity in what makes us unique as a people; embracing differences as a means to create something beautiful."
-Dr. Chris Marczak; educator, leader, author, and dreamer
"If you like puns, math, and shapes, this book is made for you. If you are squared away with puns, or if you're on the circumference and you only like math or shapes, this book is still for you"
-10-year old reader after his first reading of "The Story of Shapes"
The Valley of Stories
The Valley of Stories is a narrative of the grief process as seen through the eyes of an inquisitive young otter. Through his mother's and grandfather's experiences, the young otter learns about humans’ journey of life down the river, which includes detours into the Rapids of Tragedy. Readers of this manuscript tag along as this young otter learns about grief and healing responses to tragedy, including island stops along the way in the grief process. The goal of this manuscript is for educators, counselors, parents, and other mental health providers to have a non-threatening way to educate and walk alongside a child who has experienced a tragic event in his/her life. This manuscript provides children with awareness and education on what to expect as they begin to heal. Also included is an addendum containing further insight for adults in the child's support system. This manuscript is my most personal work to-date stemming from my experience as a survivor of a school mass shooting in 2023. As a result of my school counseling training and my first-hand experience in my school on that tragic day, I have developed a manuscript to guide parents, teachers, and mental health professionals in walking with traumatized individuals through the grieving process.
The following works are completed and awaiting illustrations. If you are an illustrator or publisher and would like to partner with us, please contact us.
The Adventures of Chilly Cow
The Adventures of Chilly Cow chronicles Oscar, a very ordinary brown cow, who has often dreamt of becoming super extraordinary like his superhero idol. Misunderstood, teased, and taunted by his peers, Oscar contemplates leaving the farm in search of a task that would prove his "super" worth. Unbeknownst to him, however, Oscar ends up stumbling into a situation which leads to him becoming a hero, quite by accident and quite as a very ordinary brown cow.