Ohioana Quarterly Volume LXIII Number 2 (Summer 2000)

A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink -- What is a Noun? by Brian P. Cleary.  Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis MN), 1999.  Unp HB Illus $12.95

Lively rhyming verse displayed on brilliantly colored pages gives new life to the lowly noun.  Bright pencil drawings loaded with examples of people, places, and things attract attention while the nouns pop out  in purpl, blue, and g fonts.  Diverting, fast-paced, and a little frenetic, the purpose of the book never falters -- to teach children aged four to twelve to recognize nouns.  This message is hammered home effectively through repetition and demonstration on each page.  The last double spread shows a scene where the reader must name examples of nouns and there are many!  Part of the Words are Categorical series, this book should be fun to pick up and will slyly inform and teach.

Brian P. Cleary is the author of four picture books, Give Me Bach My Schubert (an IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award Winner), It Looks A Lot Like Reindeer, Jamaica Sandwich, and You Never Sausage Love.  He lives with his family in Cleveland.

Excerpt reprinted from:

The Children's Bookwatch Volume 10 Number 5 (May 2000) ISSN 0896-4521

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary
Brian P. Cleary & Jenya Prosmitsky
Carolrhoda/Lerner Pub. Group
241 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
1-57505-401-9    $12.95    1-800-328-4929

Young readers four through six will enjoy Brian Cleary's whimsical book, cleverly illustrated by Jenya Prosmitsky, as Hairy, Scary, Ordinary shows what an adjective is.  The adjectives are printed in color for easy idenfitication while the playful rhymes and illustrations combine to highlight key words.  Hairy, Scary, Ordinary is a delight to read aloud and perfect for homeschooling as well as classroom reading program activity supplementation.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Carolina Parent Magazine (May 2000)

Brian P. Cleary joins the ranks of Saturday morning television's classic American Rock cartoons with his fabulous books that help teach children about the parts of speech.  Hairy, Scary, Ordinary:  What is an Adjective? and A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink:  What is a Noun? are pure genius!  With colorful illustrations and hilarious text, these books clarify the concept of nouns and adjectives with style.  You'll love reading these sentences out loud.  Just try one:  "Adjectives are words like flash, vibrant, bright, and somewhat trashy, frilly, silly, polka-dotted, single-looped or double-knotted."  The books are published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group (800-328-4929, www.lernerbooks.com)

Excerpt reprinted from:

Publisher's Weekly (August 9, 1999)

A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink:  What is a Noun?
Brian P. Cleary, Illus by Jenya Prosmitsky.
Lerner/Carolrhoda, $12.95 (32 p) ISBN 1-57505-402-7

While this book may appear to be little more than a list of nouns, the witty zeal it brings to the task of enumeration makes this basic concept seem like plenty.  Cleary indulges his fondness for wordplay (evident from such previous titles as Give Me Bach My Schubert), in the humorous, wide-ranging subject that show up in the text, its cadences reminiscent of jump-rope songs:  "If it's a train, brain or frown,/ It's elementary--it's a noun"; "London, Levis, Pekinese--/Proper nouns name all of these."  Colored type highlights the nouns within the verse, which winds around the pictures in a bouncy typeface.  For her first children's book, Prosmitsky introduces a cast of goofy-looking cartoon cats with round bodies and giant, flaccid noses.  The challenge of illustrating such a random list results in gleeful, nearly nonsensical scenes; the two images for the lines "The pope, some soap that's on a rope,/ A downtown mall, a downhill slope" show a small black cat, rigid with fear, getting soaped up beside a portrait of the pope on the shower wall juxtaposed with a snowscape of cats and their bags sliding down a slope after shopping.  Certainly one of the least serious grammar lessons imaginable, this book will convince kids that nouns are everywhere.  Ages 7-9.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Publisher's Weekly (February 26, 1996)

Jamaica Sandwich?
Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Rick Dupre
Lerner, $11.21 (32p)
ISBN 0-8225-2114-8

In this book of wordplay, part of the It Could Be Verse punning series, a boy preparing for a geography test casts the names of countries and cities in a zesty, imaginative rhyme:  "My brother drank a Malta day/ and dipped his fries in Greece./ And though his weight was Dublin,/ his Seoul seemed quite at peace," he recites.  However, although varied typefaces highlight key wordsa nd thepuns assist pronunciation ("Laos" equals "louse", "Chile" is "chili"), the book never locates its subjects on a map.  Dupre's cacophonous photo-and-paint collages, busy with tumbling humans, animals, and postcard images of landmarks, include out-of-context political maps--but these are often obscured by gesso for aesthetic purposes.  A basic world map on the end papers could have elevated this fun-loving volume to practical use.  Ages 8-up.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Spokesman/Recorder (Thursday, July 4-10)

Commentary:  The Lerner Company is probably the largest publisher of books for youth in Minnesota.  The books are widely available in community libraries and in some school libraries.  These books are also available as a resource for adults.  Two thumbnail sketches follow: Give Me Bach My Schubert by Brian P. Cleary is humor that contains rhymes and puns about music.  "My buddy Bert likes Hayden things/ he's sometimes hard to Handel.  I said, 'Give me Bach my Schubert,' cause I knew he hid my sandal."  Children are always attracted to rhymes.  They should be encouraged to read to them out-loud at home.  Another rhyme reads:  "When crossing the streets she warns us, 'There could be a major loss,/ cause if you don't c-sharp, you could b-flat before you cross."

Excerpt reprinted from:

EPISD Reviews Vol. XXII No.10

Cleary, Brian P.  Jamaica Sandwich?
0-8225-2114-8
Lerner, 1996.  32p.  $11.21

Test your students' knowledge of geography with this wonderful book of wordplay!  "Burpin' and Belgium from root beer..." " We went out to the racetrack, Kenya tell me why I'm upset?"  These are just two examples from this richly written book.  each two-page spread  has a four-line rhyme.  The illustrations are wild and zany, a treat by themselves!  There's a quiz at the end.

Lisa Goldstein, Tchr., Gr.: 1-5

EPISD Reviews Vol. XXIII, No.1

Cleary, Brian P.  It Looks a Lot Like Reindeer
0-8225-2117-2
Lerner, 1996.  27p.  $11.21

This book will be loved by the targeted age group.  A boy, whose father predicts the weather, tells about his family, describing them in pun-filled rhymes related to animals.  Rick Dupre's vibrant collage and acrylic illustrations bring the funny verse to life.  Claire Romani, Librn., Bonham.  Gr. 3-6.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Richmond Parents Monthly (June 1 & 15, 2000)

How could you tell people what your favorite candy tastes like or describe your favorite video without using adjectives? A new book, Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is An Adjective? (Lerner Publishing), offers kids colorful, cartoon characters who take readers on a wild and wacky journey through adjectives and their use. The book uses amusing rhymes to encourage kids to discover dozens of adjectives and each is highlighted for easy identification. The book introduces only the idea of adjectives without delving into more complex grammar issues so as not to overwhelm beginning readers with too much information before they've grasped the basic concept. Funny and colorful. Available by calling 800-328-4929.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Ohio Magazine (May 2000)

Children beginning to learn the basics of language will love the colorful, comical illustrations of Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective? (Carolrhoda Books) by Cleveland author Brian P. Cleary.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Horn Book Guide (January - June 2000)

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective?

Silly, big-nosed cartoon cats on pastel backgrounds clown around with rhymed examples of adjectives, mixed with descriptions of what adjectives do:  "They modify nouns in ways that help tell us/ If someone's sincere, delighted, or jealous."  The adjectives in the text are printed in energetic, creative, and colorful fonts.  Perhaps kids won't generalize from the examples, but they'll enjoy the lesson.

Excerpt reprinted from:

Ohioana Quarterly (Fall 2000)

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective?

Illustrated by Jenya Prosmitsky

Cleary, a writer who is also an editor with American Greetings, helps children ages 7 -9 understand this descriptive part of speech through delightful examples.

Testimonials:

Jamaica Sandwich:

"I thoroughly enjoyed it!  Great way to teach countries.  Nice illustrations."
--Lynn Shewnake, teacher, Mesa Arizona

"What a fun book--I shared with 5th and 6th grades, they loved it.  A great book on puns, a good read-aloud or game on listening skills.  The illustrations are fun to look at -- the book is fun to read."
--Donna chase, librarian, Fort Street Elementary School

"A punny book, the title translates to "Did  you make a sandwich?"  Some are straight forward, some are more difficult to comprehend.  Certainly not for a beginning reader.  Reading them out loud helps to figure some of them out.  The puns are all countries around the world.  Have a look at this book. It's not for everyone."
--C. Reider, Linden Public Library

"A boy's descriptions of family events is full of geographic puns that'll have readers either laughing or scratching their heads.  Unusual double-paged collage illustrations create a bizarre dreamlike setting that will have kids wondering, is this a story or a dream?  A picture book packed with puns about places that will send third through sixth grade readers off creating their own ridiculous rap.  Teachers, parents, children -- they'll all love it!  Read it, recite it, and regurgitate your own riddles, but a warning:  this will not be a shelf-sitter!"
--Sandy Earnest, Cooper Elementary School

You Never Sausage Love

"Another amusing book using puns and rhymes to create a story.  Again as in his other books, Cleary proves what a skillful writer he is.  The book outwardly would appeal to a younger child.  Possibly a good read-aloud book with explanations of the plays on words.  Good use of collage form in the illustrations."
--Stephanie Cheevers, Oakland Public Library

"I have always admired people and things that can be cute, clever and funny.  And this book is cute, clever and funny.  I like games and puzzles that make you think and I think of this book as a bit of a puzzle.  The clever play on words means you have to read carefully and listen creatively.  I think kids will enjoy this book a lot once they catch on to how to understand it.  It was fun."
--Teri Hardy, librarian, Tucson, Arizona

It Looks A Lot Like Reindeer

"A whale of a good time!  Creative and imaginative word play at its best.  The collage style illustrations are just as entertaining.  This otter be lots of fun to read and share.  Lerner should be thanked for using library binding."
--Barbara Bluestein, Princeston High School

"Very interesting artwork!  Love the play on words.  I would definitely use this in my classroom."
--Lynn Shewmake, teacher, East Mesa, Arizona

"This book is written with puns and other sorts of plays on words.  Readers will find it similar to the late Fred Gwynne's The King Who Rained and other titles from that series.  This title plays with homonyms and homophones to create puns.  The illustrations are wacky paintings that look like collages.  This picture book will appeal to students in the middle grades because many of the puns require some rich language skills.  Teachers will be able to use this book to start some writing activities in the classroom.  This book offers great language arts connections."
--Darwin Page, Washington

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective?

"This is a great book. It's a neat tool to teach with, and also an interesting trip through the world of adjectives. I think Brian Cleary may well be on his way to that rarefied place in children's literature occupied by those manic, witty rhymers Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. I like how the adjectives are colored to stand out more, and how the book uses language and words that stretch the young reader and never talks down to them. I originally got hooked on the pun series he did with Rick Dupre (illustrator) a few years back, which includes It Looks a Lot Like Reindeer, and was delighted to see that he's not neglecting the first, second and third graders! Educational, but really hip and a lot of fun, I just loved it and can't wait to buy A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink: What is a Noun?"
--A reader from Baltimore, Maryland

"Young readers four through six will enjoy Brian Cleary's whimsical book, cleverly illustrated by Jenya Prosmitsky, as Hairy, Scary, Ordinary shows what an adjective is. The adjectives are printed in color for easy identification while the playful rhymes and illustrations combine to highlight key words. Hairy, Scary, Ordinary is a delight to read aloud and perfect for homeschooling as well as classroom reading program activity supplementation."
--A reader from Oregon, Wisconsin

"This book by Brian Cleary is a delightful book live with pictures and relatability to children. They love the illustrations, enjoy listening to the story and then reading it over and over again by themselves. In my third grade classroom, this has been one of the favorites. Brian Cleary's other book (A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink: What is a Noun?) is equally liked and incredible. Thumbs up to two great books that teach content while engaging students in exciting reading!"
--A reader from Exeter, CA