The Horn Book Guide

LANGUAGE

Cleary, Brian P.

To Root, to Toot, to Parachute: What Is a Verb?

32 pp. | Carolrhoda | March, 2001 | Trade ISBN 1-57505-403-5 $$14.95

(4) K-3 Words Are Categorical series. Illustrated by Jenya Prosmitsky. A colorful cast of big-nosed cartoon cat characters illustrate a series of rhyming examples of verbs: "To dare, defend, descend, disturb--If it's an action, it's a verb!" Verbs in the text, including "to be" and present participles, appear in colored print. Since the book depends so heavily on examples, readers may miss the bigger concept, but they'll still find the lesson entertaining.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam