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Books in Words Are Categorical series

  • Thumbtacks, Earwax, Lipstick, Dipstick: What Is a Compound Word?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press ™, Aug. 1, 2013)
    What is a compound word? You'll find the answer inside this book―it's a stockpile of compound words! Brian P. Cleary's upbeat rhymes and Brian Gable's sidesplitting illustrations bring compound words to life. We've highlighted the compound words with colored type to make them easy to identify. Thumbtacks, Earwax, Lipstick, Dipstick: What Is a Compound Word? overturns traditional grammar lessons. Read this book aloud with everyone you know and share in the delight of the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime: More about Nouns

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Aug. 1, 2008)
    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.
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  • Chips and Cheese and Nana's Knees: What Is Alliteration?

    Brian P. Cleary, Martin Goneau

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2017)
    What is alliteration? You'll find the answer inside this book―it's packed with wonderful and wacky words that start with similar sounds. Brian P. Cleary's remarkable rhymes and Martin Goneau's ingenious illustrations creatively present the concept of alliteration for young readers. For easy identification, key examples of alliteration appear in color, and comical cats reinforce each idea. Chips and Cheese and Nana's Knees: What Is Alliteration? turns traditional grammar lessons on end! Read and reread this book aloud and delight in the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • But and For, Yet and Nor: What Is a Conjunction?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2012)
    What is a conjunction? You'll find the answer inside this book―because it's chock-full of conjunctions! Brian P. Cleary's playful yet informative rhymes and Brian Gable's humorous but helpful illustrations creatively clarify the concept of conjunctions for young readers. Key conjunctions appear in color for easy identification, and comical cats reinforce each idea. While you read this book aloud, share in the delight of the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • I and You and Don't Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press ™, Aug. 1, 2006)
    The latest addition to the best-selling Words Are CATegorical® series, this fun-filled guide uses playful puns and humorous illustrations to creatively clarify the concept of pronouns. Key pronouns appear in color for easy identification to show, not tell, readers what pronouns are all about.
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  • Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What Is an Interjection?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2013)
    What is an interjection? Oh, my! You’ll find the answer inside this book―it’s packed with interjections. Dear me! Brian P. Cleary’s playful rhymes and Brian Gable’s humorous illustrations creatively clarify the concept of interjections for young readers. Indeed! Interjections appear in color for easy identification, and comical cats reinforce each idea. Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What Is an Interjection? turns traditional a grammar lessons on end. Read this book aloud and share in the delight of the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally: More about Adverbs

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press ™, Jan. 1, 2010)
    What is an adverb? 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 describing when, how, where, how often, and how much in this lighthearted celebration of language.
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  • Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What Are Irregular Plurals?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2014)
    What are irregular plurals? You'll find the answer inside this book―full of ponies, teeth, potatoes, and geese! Brian P. Cleary's whimsical rhymes and Brian Gable's comical illustrations team up to give helpful guidelines for forming plurals when the usual rules of adding s or es don't apply. We've printed the irregular plural words in color for easy identification. Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What are Irregular Plurals? turns traditional spelling lessons on end. Read it aloud and share in the delight of the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy: More about Antonyms

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2011)
    What Is an antonym? One book is never enough to explore the wide range of antonyms! The zany (not ordinary) cats deliver loads of additional examples to illustrate the power of these opposites. Brian P. Cleary's playful (not dull) verse and Brian Gable's comical (not serious) cats turn traditional grammar lessons on end. Each pair of antonyms is printed in color for easy (not difficult) identification. Read this book aloud and share the delight of the sense―and nonsense―of words.
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  • Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What Is a Synonym?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2007)
    “Word-Nerd” Brian P. Cleary and highly-acclaimed illustrator Brian Gable collaborate to clarify the concept of synonyms for young readers with playful, lively, and whimsical rhymes and humorous, comical, and amusing illustrations. For easy identification, synonyms are printed in color, and key words are illustrated on each page. This funny, best-selling series shows, not tells, each part of speech.
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  • Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Paperback (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2008)
    What is an antonym? You’ll find the answer inside this book―it’s all about antonyms! Author Brian P. Cleary and illustrator Brian Gable creatively clarify (not confuse) the concept of antonyms. Their clever (not foolish) rhymes and comical (not serious) illustrations combine to highlight key words. Each pair or group of antonyms is printed in color for easy identification.
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  • Under, Over, By the Clover: What Is a Preposition?

    Brian P. Cleary, Brian Gable

    Library Binding (Millbrook Press TM, Jan. 1, 2002)
    In this fun-filled book, playful puns and comical cartoon cats combine to show, not tell, readers what prepositions are all about. Each preposition in the text, like under, over, by the clover, about, throughout, and next to Rover, is highlighted in color for easy identification. This is the newest addition to the Words Are CATagorical series, which has sold more than 450,000 copies.
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