Rectangle

I have four straight sides that stand up tall or lay down flat. I also have four pointy corners, just like a little box you can hold in your hands. Two of my sides are very long, like a big stretch. And two of my sides are a little bit short. You see me everywhere you look. I am the big front door that says hello and goodbye. I am the picture book you love to read before you sleep, filled with colorful pages. I might even be your cozy, soft bed where you have sweet dreams. Can you guess what I am. I'm a Rectangle.

A very long, long, long time ago, before there were big cities with tall buildings, people saw me hiding in the world all around them. They saw my flat shape in big gray rocks they could sit on to rest after a long walk. They saw me in the tall, strong trunks of trees reaching high for the bright sun. Soon, they had a wonderful idea. They thought, 'This shape is perfect for building things.'. So they made little bricks shaped just like me out of mud and clay. They stacked me up, one on top of the other, higher and higher, making a strong pattern. I made strong walls for their warm and cozy homes, keeping the wind out. I became windows to let the bright sunshine pour in and doors to welcome all their friends inside. It was like I was the best building block in the whole wide world, helping everyone feel safe and happy in their houses.

Today, I am still one of your most helpful friends. I bet you see me all the time. I am the bright screen you watch your favorite cartoons on. I am the yummy chocolate bar you get for a special treat. I am the clean white paper you use to draw your beautiful pictures with crayons. I help you build amazing tall towers with your colorful blocks, stacking and stacking until they almost touch the sky. I help you see the world outside through your windows. I'm a simple shape, but I'm super important. Can you look around the room right now and find me. How many of me can you count.