Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
To further a child's grasp of the meaning and function of adjectives, this gorgeous picture book provides enrichment and depth of understanding. As in her other pictorial explorations of parts of speech, Kites Sail High (verbs) and A Cache of Jewels (collective nouns), Heller uses a rhymed text in juxtaposition with bold, brilliant, double-page spreads. These books are a visual and auditory feast, designed to make language discovery appealing and rewarding. Young readers will certainly enjoy--and benefit from--Heller's elegant elucidations, and perhaps all should heed her parting advice: ``Whenever you find yourself in doubt / be cautious and be wary. / It's often very helpful / to consult your dictionary.'' Ages 6-8. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Fiction: NF Age: 4-6 Using simple verse and bold, brilliantly colored graphics, the author explores the subject of adjectives. Do children learn about adjectives by reading about them or by using them? The author never discusses instances when an adjective might be superfluous, when a strong verb will suffice. Her verse is acceptable for specific examples, but it becomes annoying and contrived when used for instructional sentences. Horn Rating: Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality. Reviewed by: ch (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a companion to Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs (1988), Heller takes on a part of speech that is inherently somewhat more comprehensible to the audience suggested by her format, though its best audience is still somewhat older. In deftly phrased verse with adjectives appearing in caps (""and also it describes a place--MYSTERIOUS, STAR-SPANGLED, ASTEROIDAL outer space. . .""), she explores the diversity of these useful words ("". . .describes a thought, idea or emotion--PEACEFUL coexistence, a UNIVERSAL notion"") before going on to such concepts as predicate adjectives, possessives, and demonstratives; suffixes that create adjectives; and comparatives and superlatives. The brilliantly colored illustrations in this generoussized, square book are grand attention-grabbers that give the unabashedly technical terms real punch. Although it's a picture book, this will be of most use in the upper grades or even high schools--where Heller's clever wordplay can be fully appreciated and her pithy summaries could transform learning grammar from a chore to a delight. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
