REVIEWS
Te World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid is a great read about the work and life of the renowned architect and designer. Author-illustrator Jeanette Winter guides readers on a journey explor- ing Hadid’s vision in her architecture, and introduces them to Hadid’s struggles and passion as she stays true to her creations – even when discrimination causes others to miss the beauty of her work. Te illustrations, colours and placement
THE WORLD IS NOT A RECTANGLE: A PORTRAIT OF ARCHITECT ZAHA HADID by Jeanette Winter Simon & Schuster Beach Lane Books, 2017 56 pages, $26.99 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Barbara Myers
of the text all add to readers feeling immersed in Hadid’s experiences and vision. Te simple sentences are placed in unorthodox positions, helping readers see regular forms in a different way. Te illustrations show the meeting of nature and built structures aligned beside each other. Tis is an excellent way to see the connections between them. Te book connects to the Visual Arts
curriculum for Grade 2 and up, serving as an example of how to create works of art that express feelings and ideas inspired by community or observations in nature, as a
Teaching about Gender Diversity: Teacher- Tested Lesson Plans for K-12 Classrooms is designed to support all educators in enhanc- ing curriculum development skills with a focus on fostering learning experiences and environments that welcome “all possible ways of living gender.” Te text is grounded in understanding gender as a complex con- tinuum of ever-changing identities and ex- pressions. Tis book is of vital importance, emphasizing that learning about gender diversity is essential for all and that “rigidly imposing gender norms and categories is a bad thing, for everyone.” Te resource extends multiple entry
TEACHING ABOUT GENDER DIVER- SITY: TEACHER-TESTED LESSON PLANS FOR K-12 CLASSROOMS by Susan W. Woolley and Lee Airton Canadian Scholars, 2020 334 pages, $75.95 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Kristin Rahian
46 ETFO VOICE | SUMMER 2025
points for educators and students, recog- nizing that everyone brings their own lived experiences and previous understandings to learning about gender. As educators, it is imperative to acknowledge and appreciate that gender diversity exists within and be- yond the spaces that we share with students, caregivers and colleagues. With this in mind, we encourage all educators to review termi- nology in the glossary and read the introduc- tion, rereading this material especially if and when using the lessons. Tese portions of the text provide educators with opportuni- ties to build background knowledge, inves- tigate school climate and reflect upon their own readiness for engaging in this learning. Teaching about Gender Diversity includes contributions from more than 30 educa-
guide to use a variety of materials to respond to design challenges, and/or as a sample to identify and describe an art form they may see in their visual experiences (e.g., architec- ture). It also can be used to assist through STEM skills and connections by both de- scribing and investigating practical applica- tions of science and technology concepts and a way to address real-world problems. Tis book is also a great introduction to spatial sense in math, showing how Hadid explored and took on the challenge of recreating the shapes of nature in her architecture. Te World is Not A Rectangle can be read
at any grade level because of its many differ- ent messages and layers. From persevering and believing in our dreams to understand- ing how our roots help make us who we are, this book affirms the idea that children should believe in themselves, even when their ideas do not conform to the norm.
Barbara Myers is a member of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local.
tors and is structured into three sections: elementary (K-5), middle years (6-9), and secondary (10-12). Each section overview builds on ideas from the introduction by ex- plaining further considerations for learning about gender diversity alongside students of various ages, while acknowledging that some lessons could be adapted for different grades. While the lessons do not directly reference
Ontario curriculum expectations, they do offer frameworks for educators of language, math, science, health and other subjects to consult when seeking to embed learning about gender diversity in read-alouds, discus- sions, inquiries and more. All lessons identify potential learning goals, key terms and con- cepts, and related resources. In recognizing the importance of educa-
tors responding to students we serve and reflecting critically on experiences we facili- tate, each lesson also emphasizes differentia- tion and advance preparation, focusing on conditions, knowledge and materials neces- sary for meaningful experiences. While there is no perfect resource and all
resources must be accompanied by ongoing learning, Teaching about Gender Diversity is a valuable text for educators seeking to build their equity lens and capacity with a focus on gender.
Kristin Rahian is a member of the Waterloo Teacher Local.
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