For children who believe learning grammar can't be fun, here's something fresh to consider: a sparkling look at verbs (words that show action or being) that might just change their minds. It's not the writer's first dance with elements of the English language. He's tackled other grammar basics in previous books in the Words Are Categorical series--among them, Hairy, Scary, Ordi nary BLK Je 1 & 15 00, which introduced adjectives. But there is something special about this verbal adventure. Cleary's energy and sunny choice of words make the book lively and delightfully bright, a feeling reinforced by the action-packed illustrations scattered across the pages. Children can use the book in class or at home with help from a grown-up. The author proves once again that educational doesn't have to mean dumpy and dull.

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.

<p>Corny, looping lists of words figure again in Cleary's latest ""Words Are Categorical"" book. Working in rhyme, Cleary presents a flurry of verbs to readersa"often in humorous juxtapositiona"and a sprinkling of grammatical rules. ""Whether you scale a wall or a fish, / Make a design on a cup or a dish, / Take out the garbage, or sharpen your knifea" / Verbs are apart of your everyday life."" There are a lot of verbs here, often coming at the reader in relentless waves, which Prosmitsky endeavors to make merry with her cartoon cast of dizzy cats. ""Verbs are words like sing and dance, / Pray or practice, preach or prance, / Toss and tumble, jump and jam, / Whine and whisper, sleep and slam."" Prosmitsky provides loads of visual clues as to the action that is taking place, and colored type cues readers as to which word is the verb. There is no denying that through all the goofery, a notion of verbs comes through, if from nothing other than inundation. A final page is provided for kids to test their newfound ability to identify the word showing the action or being. (Picture book. 7-9)</p>

Gr 2-5-Humorous rhymes present a simple overview of a part of speech that can be quite complex, and the accompanying slapstick cartoons of cavorting cats provide just the right touch of cheeky humor. Together, they painlessly teach a grammar lesson about a word that shows action or being. Ruth Heller's Kites Sail High (Grosset & Dunlap, 1988) is richly illustrated but much harder to understand. To Root, to Toot explains verbs without using terms such as: subjunctive, imperative and indicative mood, active and passive voice, tense, regular and irregular. After reading Cleary's book, young students should be able to answer the question, "What is a verb?" Useful for any collection.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.