Up, Up and Away - Hardcover

Heller, Ruth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0448402491 ISBN 13: 9780448402499

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, 1991

Synopsis

Rhyming text and illustrations introduce adverbs and their uses.

About this title

About the Author

After receiving a fine arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and completing two years of graduate work in design at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Ruth Heller (1923-2004) began her career designing wrapping paper, cocktail napkins, greeting cards, and coloring books. After five years of rejection and one complete revision, Heller's first book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones, about egg-laying animals, was published in 1981. It was so successful that the sequel, and second book to be published, Animals Born Alive And Well (1982), about mammals, quickly followed. In 1983 and 1984, her third and fourth titles, The Reason For A Flower (about plants that have seeds and flowers) and Plants That Never Ever Bloom (about plants that do not) were published.

She then began work on a collection of six books, the How To Hide series on camouflage and the magic of this phenomenon in nature, which covered the entire animal kingdom -- insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and sea creatures. The next collection of books became a five-volume series on parts of speech: A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns; Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs; Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives; Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns; and Up, Up and Away: A Book About Adverbs. She also wrote and illustrated the unique and fascinating book Color, a charming and instructive guide to how art goes through the four color printing process.

Among the notable people who have had an influence on Heller's writing have been: Ogden Nash, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, and Dr. Seuss. Heller says of her work, "All my books are nonfiction picture books in rhyme. I find writing in rhyme enjoyable and challenging, and I think it is an easy way for children to learn new facts and acquire a sophisticated vocabulary. Children are not intimidated by big words. I try to make my writing succinct and allow the illustrations to convey as much information as possible."

Reviews

Grade 2-4-- Heller maintains the standards she set in her previous concept books in this lively introduction to adverbs. The playfully rhymed text flows effortlessly as it discusses superlatives, irregular adverbs, and double negatives. The featured words appear in bold print and are used frequently throughout to demonstrate their functions. The jewel-toned illustrations are a visual delight, featuring everything from Persian cats to purple cows. Large double-page spreads provide maximum graphic impact, while the subjects add a whimsical touch. The book ends abruptly, but its many strengths greatly outweigh this quibble. Teachers and children will find the clever presentation informative and fun. --Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TX
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this latest addition to Heller's expanding collection of parts-of-speech books, the author/artist employs her characteristically vibrant, larger-than-life paintings to examine the many aspects of adverbs. Readers are told--and captivatingly shown--that "ADVERBS work terrifically when answering specifically . . . 'How?' 'How often?' 'When?' and 'Where?' " A glorious blue-and-white Victorian house, for example, drips gingerbread trim across one spread: it was painted "RECENTLY." The question, "WHY do pandas eat bamboo?" is posed against a comparatively spare spread of three beguiling creatures devouring green leaves. If this book is a bit more confusing than the earlier volumes, it is chiefly because of the inherent diversity of the topic--young grammarians may well be puzzled that the words in a bride's vow of "YES, INDEED, FOREVER" are equated with the "how" of "HOW do you do?" Nevertheless, Heller once again offers an informative English lesson that is great fun to read and rife with theatrics. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Continuing her unique series on parts of speech (Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs, 1988), Heller tackles one of the most difficult with her usual panache, coupling a deftly rhymed text with gloriously bold, colorful illustrations (``Some ADVERBS end in WARD, and others...in WISE... BACKWARD... LIKEWISE... COUNTERCLOCKWISE''--a succinct summary appropriately framed by two pairs of gymnasts, their backs arched in opposing curves). The end-page conclusion is unduly abrupt; still, what other grammar manual will leave students longing for more? Just right to lighten up the lesson, even at the high-school level; Heller's admonitions are not only more fun but often clearer than more earnest explanations. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 9+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0448402491
• ISBN 13: 9780448402499
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1