(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Here Cleary delineates between comparatives and superlatives ("Sometimes, you don't add e-r. / Instead, you reach for 'more'") and introduces palindromes ("word or number, sentence, phrase, or name / that--when it's read backward--is spelled and said the same."). Overly long, singsongy rhymes pair with energetic, unattractive cats careening across brightly colored backgrounds to illustrate the various phrases and words. Review covers these Words Are Categorical titles: Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest and Madam and Nun and 1001.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. In this book, irregular plurals are any plurals that are not formed by adding -s or -es to the base word; so, even words that follow regular spelling rules for forming plurals (e.g., buddy/buddies) are considered irregular. Truly irregular plurals like teeth, mice, deer, and children are covered, but lightly. Goofy cartoon cat illustrations add interest to the rhyming text.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Vigorous rhymes explain what U.S. money looks like and how it can be counted and used to buy things. Unappealing cartoon cats, carrying realistic bills and coins, illustrate the lesson. The frenzied pace doesn't permit consideration of the concepts, but readers may pick up the message that money is "something you can save or lend or spend on what you please."

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Here Cleary delineates between comparatives and superlatives ("Sometimes, you don't add e-r. / Instead, you reach for 'more'") and introduces palindromes ("word or number, sentence, phrase, or name / that--when it's read backward--is spelled and said the same."). Overly long, singsongy rhymes pair with energetic, unattractive cats careening across brightly colored backgrounds to illustrate the various phrases and words. Review covers these Words Are Categorical titles: Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest and Madam and Nun and 1001.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary starts with pizza slices as an example of fractions in action. He also talks about cooking ("Fractions come in handy / if you ever help with baking. / You'll see them in the recipes / for breads and cakes you're making") then touches on terminology (numerator, denominator). Information is limited, but it's an entertaining starting point.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary's zany cartoon cats, shown in Gable's brightly colored illustrations, help define and categorize mathematical patterns. The book provides an entertaining starting point for kids learning about patterns; the rhyming text is snappy, but some of the examples aren't clear.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary's zany cartoon cats, shown in Gable's brightly colored illustrations, help define and provide examples of contractions. It's an entertaining starting point (or possibly a refresher) for kids learning about contractions; the rhyming text is snappy, but some of the examples are hard to follow.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Brightly colored cartoon cats define and provide examples of conjunctions and their role in language. Though the pace is frantic, the rhyming text provides clear examples of the concepts; highlighted conjunctions appear in color. Readers will enjoy the exaggerated humor in the illustrations.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. "Antonyms are words that / are quite opposite in meaning, / like sleep and wake, / or give and take-- / like messing is to cleaning." Cleary's wacky cat cartoon characters are back in their second book about antonyms. Though the text's pace is frenetic and the examples can be confusing, some of them are creative.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary and Gable's zany, education-minded cats present an introduction to circles, ovals, triangles, squares, and rectangles through humorous rhymes. Each shape is described using a number of different examples (e.g., a circle could be a polka dot, Hula-Hoop, or bike tire). Though the rhymes don't all work perfectly, the volume is generally entertaining and accessible.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. After the text vaguely describes the differences between similes and metaphors, Cleary and Gable's exaggerated cats present a number of humorous examples. Though the rhymes don't all work perfectly and readers may still come away hazy about definitions, the volume is generally entertaining and accessible.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary's rhyming text lists several adverbs and explains (in frenetic language) how they're used. The attention-grabbing lines will likely stick in readers' heads, though they may find the examples and usages overly specific and underexplained. Colorful cartoon cats dance around the pages.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary provides another introduction to synonyms (Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know), supplying a range of examples paired with humorous illustrations of cartoony cats. The brief rhyming text offers plenty of "alternatives, substitutes, choices" to create a starting point for discussions, though the frantic presentation is a lot to take.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. The book defines ounces, pounds, tons, grams, kilograms, and metric tons, providing examples of each weight and its equivalents. Though the rhymes don't always scan, their boisterousness and the wacky cartoon cats make this book accessible. Teachers may find it a useful place to start a unit on weights and measures.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. "Adjectives are words like yellow, / sleeping, slumping, somewhat mellow." Rhyming text attempts to explain what an adjective is, mostly by providing a wide range of random examples; each adjective is set in colorful type to distinguish it from other words in the sentence. As usual, the series's zany cartoons starring goofy large-nose cats illustrate and (sometimes) help explain the text.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Math Is Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. "Subtraction is an action that will make your total less, / whether ice-cream scoops or hula hoops or inches from a dress." A rhyming text employs various kid-pleasing objects to introduce the concept of subtraction. Some rhymes push it ("dentist" leads to "bent wrist"), but young readers may find the groaners, accompanied by sleek, dopey-looking-animal–filled art, part of the fun.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Grinning cartoon cats pose in silly scenes to illustrate the concept of synonyms. The jaunty text uses rhythmic verse to demonstrate similarities in word meanings. In the end readers may not be able to answer "What is a synonym? Do you know?" but will enjoy the lesson anyway.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. The big-nosed cartoon grammar cats are back with another rhyming paean to a particular part of speech. This time, the text both defines and gives examples of personal, possessive, and demonstrative pronouns (among others), all of which are set in color for easy identification. The lesson may be beyond some young readers, but the energetic, humorous illustrations and bouncy rhymes are not.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. Cleary's and Gable's zany, big-nosed cats are back, this time to energetically introduce the concept of adverbs. A punning rhyming text explains what adverbs are and do; throughout, sentences containing adverbs (which are set in color for easy identification) are illustrated by brightly tinted cartoon creatures. The lesson may be too frenetic for many readers to understand, but they'll sure enjoy the rush of fresh air.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Brian Gable. The big-nosed cartoon cats are at it again, explaining through zany, energetic pictures, "Prepositions show us where, / like in your bed, beside the chair...." Prepositions in the text are highlighted in color, and although the definition may be vague (a preposition "connects a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence") and the rhymed meter rough, readers will enjoy the whirlwind grammar lesson.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam