Brian P. Cleary

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Brian P. Cleary in 2016 American Poet, Author, Humorist, Brian P. Cleary.jpg
Brian P. Cleary in 2016

Brian P. Cleary (born October 1, 1959) is an American humorist, poet, and author. He is best known for his books written for grade-school children that explore grammar in humorous ways; he also controls a line of gift books for grownups. He is the senior editor for digital content at American Greetings, and his greetings have been performed by Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson, William Shatner, Meghan Trainor and others. [1]

Contents

Early life, education and career

Cleary was born in Lakewood, Ohio, one of nine children, attended elementary school in three different states (Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio) and graduated from Saint Ignatius High School, a Jesuit boys-only Jesuit high school in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in communications in 1982. [2]

Since 1982, he has worked for American Greetings Corporation—one of the largest creative divisions in the world—where he is currently the senior editor, working on greeting cards, songs, and electronic greetings. He has toured more than 500 elementary schools in the U.S. and Europe as a visiting author making presentations to students and staff.

Writing

Cleary created the best-selling "Words are CATegorical" series for grade school readers, a 27-volume set with more than 3 million copies in print published by Lerner Publishing Group. Kirkus Reviews praised his book on Adjectives, as, "Neat, clever, commnendable, and groovy." " [3] He has also written humor essays for national and local magazines and newspapers. His cartoon writings have been published in more than 600 newspapers worldwide. His books have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. His poetry has been anthologized alongside Jack Prelutsky, Kenn Nesbitt, and Lemony Snicket in a collection tilted "One Minute Till Bedtime," published by Little, Brown Books, 2016.

Cleary's literary influences include Ogden Nash, Shel Silverstein, and E.E. Cummings.

Awards

Bibliography

All of Cleary's children's books have been published by Lerner Publishing Group and are written for grades K-6.

"Words are CATegorical" Series

Cleary's best-selling "Words are CATegorical" series include 27 titles, published from 1999 to 2015. [4] [5]

"Sounds Like Reading" Series

An 8-book series written for 1st graders and "English as second language" students, published in 2009. [6]

"Math is CATegorical" Series

A 7-book series that introduces math concepts to 3rd graders. [7]

Work Appearing in Poetry Anthology

Other Lerner Book Titles

Books for Adults

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References

  1. "Author Uses Lowly Pun as a Base to Teach Kids" by Jim Nichols, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 1, 1997 Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Author shows kids a GNU way to SEA words" by Jennifer A. Webb, Catholic Universe Bulletin, May 2, 1997 Archived October 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Barnes & Noble official site
  4. "Words are CATegorical" publishers page
  5. Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is an Adverb? Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective? How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms and Homophones? I and You and Don't Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun? A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime: More about Nouns Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally: More about Adverbs A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun? Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What Is a Synonym? Quirky, Jerky, Extra Perky: More about Adjectives Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp: More about Verbs Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym? To Root, to Toot, to Parachute: What Is a Verb? Under, Over, By the Clover: What Is a Preposition? Stroll and Walk, Babble and Talk: More about Synonyms Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy: More about Antonyms Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk: What Are Similes and Metaphors? But and For, Yet and Nor: What Is a Conjunction? Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What Is an Interjection? Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What Are Irregular Plurals? I'm and Won't, They're and Don't: What's a Contraction? -Ful and -Less, -Er and -Ness: What is a Suffix Madam and Nun and 1001: What is a Palindrome Pre- and Re- Mis and De-: What is a Prefix? A Bat Cannot Bat, a Stair Cannot Stare: More about Homonyms and Homophones Thumbtacks. Earwax, Lipstick, Dipstick: What is a Compound Word? Breezier, Cheesier, Newest and Bluest: What are Comparatives and Superlatives? Chips and Cheese and Nana’s Knees: What is Alliteration?
  6. "Sounds Like Reading" series publishers page
  7. "Math is CATegorical" series publishers page
  8. Lerner Books Carolrhoda Picture Books series official site Archived August 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Lerner Books Millbrook Picture Books series official site [ permanent dead link ]
  10. Lerner Books Adventures in Memory series official site
  11. Rainbow Soup official publisher page [ permanent dead link ]
  12. The Laugh Stand official publisher's page [ permanent dead link ]
  13. Rhyme & PUNishment official publisher page