You Oughta Know By Now

Think you know everything? Think again! For most of us, adulthood is the (incorrect!) notion that we know everything there is to know by the time we’ve said good-bye to our teenage years. This collection is here to prove you wrong.

Packed with 100 bites of humorous wisdom on kids, money, sex, love, and everything in between, this perfectly sized pick-me-up will remind you that there is still a lot to be learned in this world. Guaranteed to leave you in hysterics!

The Punctuation Station

by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, Reading level: Ages 9-12 Library Binding: 37 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2010)  ISBN-10: 0822578522 ISBN-13: 978-0822578529 All aboard! Join a family of giraffes on their journey to Punctuation Station. As the train chugs along, you’ll learn the ins and outs of using periods, commas, apostrophes, question marks, hyphens, quotation marks, and exclamation points! Playful rhymes from Brian P. Cleary and colorful illustrations from Joanne Lew-Vriethoff make learning about punctuation fun. So hop on board - this is one train ride you don’t want to miss!

****Sounds Like Reading Series****

The Bug in the Jug Wants a Hug: A Short Vowel Sounds Book (Sounds Like Reading)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 9-12. Library Binding: 32 pages, Library Binding: 32 pages, Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)

 ISBN-10: 0761395032 ISBN-13: 978-0761395034

 

 

The Clown in the Gown Drives the Car With the Star:
A Book About Diphthongs and R-controlled Vowels (Sounds Like Reading)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator), Alice M. Maday (Contributor) Reading level: Ages 9-12 Library Binding: 30 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)

ISBN-10: 0822576376 ISBN-13: 978-0822576372

The Frail Snail on the Trail: A Long Vowel Sounds Book With Consonant Blends (Sounds Like Reading) 

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator), Alice M. Maday (Contributor) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 30 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009) 

ISBN-10: 0822576384 ISBN-13: 978-0822576389

The Nice Mice in the Rice: A Long Vowel Sounds Book
(Sounds Like Reading)

 by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator), Alice M. Maday (Contributor Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)

 ISBN-10: 0822576287   ISBN-13: 978-0822576280

The Peaches on the Beaches: A Book About Inflectional Endings (Sounds Like Reading)  

 by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator), Alice M. Maday (Contributor) Reading level: Ages 9-12  Library Binding: 30 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)  

ISBN-10: 0822576368 ISBN-13: 978-0822576365

The Thing on the Wing Can Sing: A Short Vowel Sounds Book With Consonant Digraphs
(Sounds Like Reading)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator), Alice M. Maday (Contributor)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 30 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)

ISBN-10: 0822576392 ISBN-13: 978-0822576396

 

Whose Shoes Would You Choose?: A Long Vowel Sounds Book With Consonant Digraphs (Sounds Like Reading)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Jason Miskimins (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 30 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 2009)
ISBN-10: 0822576406 ISBN-13: 978-0822576402

 

 

****Words Are Categorical Series ****

 

Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy: More About Antonyms (Words Are Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Brian Gable (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press (March 2009)

ISBN-10: 0822578786 ISBN-13: 978-0822578789

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist Fans of Cleary’s Words Are CATegorical series can enjoy another round of antonyms in this amusing look at opposites, a companion book to Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym? (2006). Wild colors and zany, attired animal characters ramp up the humor and the fun in this useful introduction to antonyms. The rhyming, rhythmic text lopes along, succinctly explaining what an antonym is and following up with plenty of clear examples, made not just palatable but actually amusing in the cartoon-like illustrations. One section here shows how adding certain prefixes to words can create antonyms such as pronounce/mispronounce, logical/illogical, and equalities/inequalities. The language-arts curriculum connection makes this a natural choice for school libraries, but the book’s quick-paced writing and visual zip extend its appeal way beyond that of most grammar books. --Carolyn Phelan

Stroll and Walk, Babble and Talk: More About Synonyms (Words Are Categorical)

Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (October 2008) 
ISBN-10: 0822578506 ISBN-13: 978-0822578505

What is a synonym? It's hard to explain but easy to show and that's just what this book does, in rhyming, comical verse that will have readers giggling as they learn. Cartoon cats guide readers through the tricks of words that are practically, nearly the same in this lighthearted celebration of language.

The Action of Subtraction (Math Is Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Brian Gable (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Paperback: 32 pages Publisher: First Avenue Editions (September 2008)  

ISBN-10: 1580138438 ISBN-13: 978-1580138437

Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable, author and illustrator of the best-selling Words Are CATegorical series, bring their trademark sense of humor to the subject of subtraction, proving that sometimes, less is really more. The comical cats show young readers the basic concept of taking one number away from another. Funny illustrations and examples make learning to subtract as easy as 3, 2, 1!

Editorial Reviews 

From School Library Journal The author has used the format of his popular Words Are CATegorical books (Millbrook) to look at mathematical functions. Subtraction is explained in rhyming text and simple, silly cartoons with excellent examples that range from angry bulldogs, hornets, and bowling pins to pieces of birthday cake, sports time-outs, and stuffed animals. The text is actually a rap that would be fun for students to memorize and perform. ... Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ISBN-10: 1580139345 ISBN-13: 978-1580139342

One book couldn't possibly be enough to cover the topic of nouns. The cats are back with their comical examples to drive home to readers just what a noun is. Specific types of nouns - such as abstract nouns and proper nouns - are also introduced in this giggle-a-page expansion on the topic.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal This title presents students with yet more rhymed and seemingly random nouns than those in Cleary's A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun? (Carlhoada, 1999). Each spread contains a playful sentence elaborating on the topic, with each noun highlighted in a bright color. Friend is a noun,/and so is your dad,/ice cream/and bagels/and Boston/and Brad. Gable's loose watercolor cartoons depict each noun (as well as the series' signature big-nosed cats, of course). Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.  

From Booklist "Recommended as an antidote to snooze-producing grammar texts."  

 On the Scale, a Weighty Tale (Math Is Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary (Author), Brian Gable (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group (September 2008)  

ISBN-10: 0822578514 ISBN-13: 978-0822578512

In this wacky look at weight, Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable introduce essential measurement units - from grams to pounds to tons. The comical cats of the wildly popular Words Are CATegorical series show how to measure trucks, trains, ducks, cranes, and more. Peppy rhymes, goofy illustrations, and kid-friendly examples make light work of this heavy topic.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews In rousing rhyme, this addition to the Math is CATegorical series explores weight measurement. ...The clear and humorous examples drawn from life enable kids to understand easily and then apply the information. For those just beginning the numbers adventure, this one tips the scale. 

ISBN-10: 0822578484 ISBN-13: 978-0822578482

One book is never enough to explore the incredibly wide range of adverbs! The goofy cats crazily deliver loads of additional examples to entertainingly illustrate the power of adverbs, including phrasal adverbs. Brian P. Cleary's playful verse and Brian Gable's comical cats magically turn traditional grammar lessons on end. Each adverb is cleverly color coded to help readers identify adverbs of manner, adverbs of time, and more. Read this book aloud and share the delight of the sense and nonsense of words.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal   The CATegorical cats are back. A professorial feline opens this offbeat lecture with a definition of adverbs and a color-coded guide to the types found throughout the book. Readers are then drawn into another of Cleary's signature rhyming narratives, which tumbles across each page verbally and visually. .... -Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym?

by Brian P. Cleary Reading level: Ages 9-12 Library Binding Publisher: Millbrook Press (May, 2006)
ISBN: 157505860X

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Cleary describes and illustrates antonyms from the obvious stop and go, yes and no, front and back, fast and slow, to the more obscure: excite and soothe, hefty and diminutive. He elaborates on reasons for celebrating opposites and also describes how to create them through the use of powerful prefixes .... Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Mission Of Addition (Math Is Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press (June 1, 2005)
ISBN: 1575058596

How Much Can A Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms And Homophones? (Words Are Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (September 1, 2005)
ISBN: 1575058243

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal  Through rhyming wordplay, Cleary explains two parts of speech that are often difficult to understand. ... he tackles homonyms and homophones...Another fun and effective introduction to the world of grammar. Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pitch And Throw, Grasp And Know: What Is A Synonym?
(Words Are Categorical)

by Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8
Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (November 1, 2004)
ISBN: 1575057964

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal   With their comical cartoon characters and Seussian rhymes, Cleary and Gable have already claimed their niche for providing grammar instruction in a clear, lighthearted manner. Useful for introductory lessons on the topic, this book will help teachers to model better writing and to demonstrate the value of an expanded vocabulary. ... While students may still struggle to come up with more original word choices of their own, this excellent text goes a long way toward establishing the importance of synonyms.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

From Booklist  ...With the slapstick art enlivening things ...this will be a fun read-aloud, and kids will certainly get the message that words are not boring. Hazel Rochman Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved

Mrs. Riley Bought Five Itchy Aardvarks and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Science Facts (Adventures in Memory)

Reading level: Ages 9-12 Library Binding:
48 pages Publisher: Millbrook Press (October 2008)

ISBN-10: 0822578190 ISBN-13: 978-0822578192

With so many things to remember and so little time, what's a kid to do? Brian P. Cleary has come up with a whole book of tips for how to tackle tricky science facts. This book is bursting with mnemonic devices, poems, songs, and more. Need to keep track of the order of the planets? Mel can help. As in: Mel's Very Excited Ma Just Served Us Nachos. How about photosynthesis? Sing a song about it to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"! Brian also explains how kids can use the ideas in the book to create their very own memory tricks.  

 

I and You and Don't Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun

by Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable (Illustrator) School & Library Binding: 32 pages Publisher: Carolrhoda Books; (February 2004)
ISBN: 1575055961  

 

 

 

Presentations

I've visited schools in 40 states, and have appeared before more than 85,000 students.
I have also given teacher in-service presentations, typically about an hour.
My school visits typically take some form of the following, but can often be adjusted depending on your school's needs.

LARGE GROUP PRESENTATION 45 MINUTES FOR HALF THE SCHOOL

LARGE GROUP PRESENTATION 45 MINUTES FOR HALF THE SCHOOL

30-MINUTE SMALLER GROUP (FEWER THAN 50 STUDENTS) - WORKSHOP

LUNCH WITH STAFF OR STUDENTS OR COMBINATION

30-MINUTE SMALLER GROUP (FEWER THAN 50 STUDENTS) WORKSHOP

30-MINUTE SMALLER GROUP (FEWER THAN 50 STUDENTS) WORKSHOP

Presentations are gatherings in large auditoriums or gymnasiums in which I do nearly
all the talking. I'm standing up, the students are sitting down, and I walk students
through what I read when I was their age, when I started writing, the importance of
influences, and who mine were. They are typically about 45 minutes, and about half
the information changes for the older and younger groups.

Workshops are smaller, and are only 30 minutes in length. Ideally fewer than 50
students. I have workshops for every grade except kindergartners (who, of course,
attend the large group presentation). Some examples of workshops going from lower
grades to higher grades: Making a paper noun quilt, the "verb train" game, the
rhyming pairs of nouns contest, anagrams game, the word well, acrostics poetry,
personification, sensory poem writing.

In-services for teachers are also available. Here I usually share the lesson plans I've
had the most luck with, and how I've gotten the best writing from students.

Out of town (that is, out of the Cleveland area), it's $1250 for the day plus travel (air,
hotel, meals). Within 60 miles of my home, it's $850 for the day

Check out Brian's website for more information about setting up a school visit http://www.brianpcleary.com

Contact

Brian P. Cleary
16505 Southland Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44111

Phone (216) 889-1799

mailto:BabeRuth60@aol.com

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