About the Author

Brian P. Cleary is an American humorist, poet, and author. He is best known for his books written for grade-school children that explore grammar, math and poetry in humorous ways. In his role in the digital division of American Greetings, he's put words in the mouths of Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, William Shatner, Meghan Trainor and more. The multi-million selling author has performed poetry workshops in 500 elementary schools across the county. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Brian Gable is the illustrator of many of the best-selling Words Are CATegorical(R) books, as well as the Math Is CATegorical(R) series. Mr. Gable lives in Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

K-Gr 2-The team behind the "Words Are CATegorical" series (Carolrhoda) offers the first in a series about math. Through playful rhymes, the book explains basic concepts such as, "No amount gets smaller when you're working in addition. The numbers climb from low to high 'cause that's addition's mission!" Children count bubbles, rings, school buses, baseballs, baby-sitters, eggs, and musicians in this fun introduction, which also covers terms that are indicative of the operation: "`Equals' can be used like `is,' or `totals,' even `makes.' It doesn't matter if you're adding friends or birthday cakes." Silly cartoons of the catlike cast in flat colors are outlined in black ink. It is sometimes difficult to count the objects such as bubbles, which float individually in the air as well as fill the tub in a solid mass. While 10 baby-sitters are introduced in one segment, they are sometimes difficult to differentiate from their charges and are never pictured together for youngsters to count. The final spread challenges readers to solve five simple addition problems, only two of which include tangible objects to count. Without memorizing number facts, it may be difficult to make the jump from "three eggs plus two eggs equal five eggs" to "6+5=?" Furthermore, the small size of the book makes it difficult for group sharing. All in all, an additional purchase.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.