After receiving a fine arts degree from the University of
California at Berkeley and completing two years of graduate work in
design at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland,
Ruth Heller (1923-2004) began her career designing wrapping paper,
cocktail napkins, greeting cards, and coloring books. After five
years of rejection and one complete revision, Heller's first
book,Chickens Aren't the Only Ones, about egg-laying animals, was
published in 1981. It was so successful that the sequel, and second
book to be published,Animals Born Alive And Well(1982), about
mammals, quickly followed. In 1983 and 1984, her third and fourth
titles,The Reason For A Flower(about plants that have seeds and
flowers) andPlants That Never Ever Bloom(about plants that do not)
were published.
She then began work on a collection of six books, theHow To
Hideseries on camouflage and the magic of this phenomenon in
nature, which covered the entire animal kingdom -- insects, birds,
mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and sea creatures. The next
collection of books became a five-volume series on parts of
speech-A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns; Kites Sail
High- A Book About Verbs; Many Luscious Lollipops- A Book About
Adjectives; Merry-Go-Round- A Book About Nouns;andUp, Up and Away-
A Book About Adverbs. She also wrote and illustrated the unique and
fascinating bookColor, a charming and instructive guide to how art
goes through the four color printing process.
Among the notable people who have had an influence on Heller's
writing have been- Ogden Nash, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear,
Hilaire Belloc, and Dr. Seuss. Heller says of her work, "All my
books are nonfiction picture books in rhyme. I find writing in
rhyme enjoyable and challenging, and I think it is an easy way for
children to learn new facts and acquire a sophisticated vocabulary.
Children are not intimidated by big words. I try to make my writing
succinct and allow the illustrations to convey as much information
as possible."
“Heller explores types of nouns: common, proper, abstract,
concrete, compound, collective, singular, plural, and possessive.
... Its lush, exuberant full-color artwork will grab kids'
attention.”
—Booklist
“With humor, style, and succinct, admirable precision, Heller
summarizes everything most people will ever need to know about this
particular area of grammar. ... A treasure.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“To say that Heller has a way with words is to understate a
multifaceted talent. ... The rhymed text of this book is as witty
and smooth as its predecessors. ... Rarely does a book offer
children so much to look at, listen to and learn.”
—Publisher's Weekly
“Striking graphic design with large clear objects in bold colors
overflowing each double-page spread make the book a visual treat.
The use of bold type for all the nouns is particularly pleasing and
will make for easy reading aloud. ... Those who have found the
others in the series successful will want this one.”
—School Library Journal
K-Gr 6-- Nouns of all kinds are the subject of Heller's latest in her series of books on parts of speech. Common, proper, abstract, concrete, compound, and collective nouns are all defined and shown by example in usually lilting verse. Singular, plural, and possessive forms of nouns are also thoroughly covered, and determiners are explained and demonstrated. The rhyme form is used with amazing skill but now and then seems forced as in, ``Nouns are highly effective./ The last kind of NOUN is . . . COLLECTIVE.'' How and why they work are not explained. Striking graphic design with large clear objects in bold colors overflowing each double-page spread make the book a visual treat. The use of bold type for all the nouns is particularly pleasing and will make for easy reading aloud. Heller's language books challenge users' creativity since the concepts are difficult for the picture-book format. Conversely, the verse and illustrations can delight very young children while older readers are sure to find the concise definitions clearer and certainly more entertaining than any grammar text. Those who have found the others in the series successful will want this one. --Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
"Heller explores types of nouns: common, proper, abstract,
concrete, compound, collective, singular, plural, and possessive.
... Its lush, exuberant full-color artwork will grab kids'
attention."
-Booklist
"With humor, style, and succinct, admirable precision, Heller
summarizes everything most people will ever need to know about this
particular area of grammar. ... A treasure."
-Kirkus Reviews
"To say that Heller has a way with words is to understate a
multifaceted talent. ... The rhymed text of this book is as witty
and smooth as its predecessors. ... Rarely does a book offer
children so much to look at, listen to and learn."
-Publisher's Weekly
"Striking graphic design with large clear objects in bold colors
overflowing each double-page spread make the book a visual treat.
The use of bold type for all the nouns is particularly pleasing and
will make for easy reading aloud. ... Those who have found the
others in the series successful will want this one."
-School Library Journal
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