01.23.08

Avid readers know the fun and anticipation of starting a good book. Last week, I found myself stealing every moment my boys were napping to read a great novel that had been on my "must read" list for quite some time. My book was written by the wonderful Nicholas Sparks, and the pages were practically turning themselves. So when I recently discovered another wonderful author, by the name of Brian P. Cleary, I couldn't wait to share his page-turners with my two boys!

Our first Cleary book, entitled Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes: A Very Silly Alphabet Book, is a fun, colorful, and whimsical approach to introducing children to their letters. From A to Z, each page is filled with singsong rhymes that use several identifiable images to reinforce the letter being taught. An example of his fun prose is, "N is for newt with a necklace of noodles…O begins ostrich with oats by the oodles" accompanied by the most amazing illustrations of all the words described. My boys actually fight over this book, which is not-so-good for mama, but speaks volumes of how much they love everything inside.

Brian P. Cleary, also known as the "Word Nerd", explores the wonder of words through his humor and poetry and teaches children that learning can be fun! His two incredibly popular book series, "Words are CATegorical" and "Math is CATegorical" have educated, inspired, and amused children and their parents for years. Just a quick search on Amazon, and you will see the many, many titles available. I have to admit when scrolling through the titles, I laughed out loud at a few, like "To Root, to Toot, to Parachute." And just a quick click to Brian's website, brings you to a wonderful educational resource for kids to play and learn.  

It is no surprise that Brian P. Cleary is a Senior Editor on the Humor Staff at American Greetings gift cards. With his lighthearted style, his writing appeals to all ages. From letters to numbers to rhymes with fun pictures, Brian P. Cleary books should be on your "must-read" list.