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Math Is CATegorical ®
On the Scale, a Weighty Tale
In this wacky look at weight, Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable introduce essential measurement units--from grams to pounds to tons. The comical cats of the wildly popular Words Are CATegorical(R) series show how to measure trucks, trains, ducks, cranes, and more. Peppy rhymes, goofy illustrations, and kid-friendly examples make light work of this heavy topic.
32 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 18, 2017
Text: 3 stars
Illustrations: 3 stars
Nonfiction picture book introduces basic units of weight. Rhyming text explains both the US and metric systems. Brief note in the front of the book states that "People in many countries use only the metric system," but the book makes no effort to explain why there are two different systems, or who uses which one. This seems like a critical oversight in a book that presents both systems with equal emphasis. Also, there are no direct equivalents between the two systems mentioned in the text. Part of Brian Cleary's Math is CATegorical series.
Illustrations: 3 stars
Nonfiction picture book introduces basic units of weight. Rhyming text explains both the US and metric systems. Brief note in the front of the book states that "People in many countries use only the metric system," but the book makes no effort to explain why there are two different systems, or who uses which one. This seems like a critical oversight in a book that presents both systems with equal emphasis. Also, there are no direct equivalents between the two systems mentioned in the text. Part of Brian Cleary's Math is CATegorical series.
October 19, 2010
This was a cute book that gave perspective on what units of measurement are used for weighing different things. A few of the rhymes didn't really flow very well and I felt like they maybe could've done more, but overall I liked it pretty well.
June 23, 2024
This is one of those whimsical, cutesy books intended for very young children that are as confusing as all get up. The illustrations are excellent: it’s the text that’s so bad.
I can’t believe that any child who has grown up with only avoirdupois (ounces, pounds etc)—or only metric (grams, kilos etc) — would have any better understand of units after reading this book. Its only benefit is that it might induce a parent or teacher to provide a better, more child-friendly explanation. I’d suggest using a straight edge ruler with inches on one side and centimeters on the other as a starting point.
I’d checked the book out after finding a six-year-old deeply immersed in a book on black holes. This was the same child who loves fundamental molecular chemistry. This generation needs something more useful than cartoon figures and the sort of very odd assertion that:
I can’t believe that any child who has grown up with only avoirdupois (ounces, pounds etc)—or only metric (grams, kilos etc) — would have any better understand of units after reading this book. Its only benefit is that it might induce a parent or teacher to provide a better, more child-friendly explanation. I’d suggest using a straight edge ruler with inches on one side and centimeters on the other as a starting point.
I’d checked the book out after finding a six-year-old deeply immersed in a book on black holes. This was the same child who loves fundamental molecular chemistry. This generation needs something more useful than cartoon figures and the sort of very odd assertion that:
”A gram is not a cracker,
And it’s not your parent’s mothers.
It’s a weight,
so get this straight—
it’s smaller than most others.”
May 21, 2021
I really liked this book. The illustrations where fun, and the rhyming added to the flow. It's a great introduction into the how we weight things. I really liked how the book differentiated the color of text for the vocabulary words. It helps focused the students on those words because they are written in red, which is different than the normal black text.
November 1, 2018
Grade: 1-2,3-4
Genre: Nonfiction
This book was cute, the pictures kept me engaged. This book would be perfect for students learning about weight measurements. The book talks about pounds, ounces, kilograms, and tons. This would be a great way to review before tests. Rate 5-5
Genre: Nonfiction
This book was cute, the pictures kept me engaged. This book would be perfect for students learning about weight measurements. The book talks about pounds, ounces, kilograms, and tons. This would be a great way to review before tests. Rate 5-5
December 29, 2022
My grandson and I read this book as we discussed different types of measurements. This series is such a fun series, easy to read and understand the concept(s) that are discussed.
May 17, 2012
This is a fun book in the Math is CATegorical series by Brian P. Cleary. We've read all of the books in this series and we really enjoy them. The simple, rhyming narrative and cartoonish illustrations combine to make this a fun book to read aloud. It doesn't try to subtly insert a math lesson into the middle of a story, like the MathStart books by Stuart J. Murphy do. But the result is still educational and fun. This book has a focus on weight measurements, including both the English and the metric systems. Some of the rhymes are a little forced, but on the whole, it's an entertaining read. We enjoyed reading this book together and we hope that this author/illustrator team will write more books for this series.
March 7, 2013
"On the Scale" is a part of the "Math is CATegorical" series. It takes children through a fun introduction to the concept of weight,"the heaviness of stuff". Through comparisons to familiar things (cars, a loaf of bread, and a whale)the concepts of tons, pounds and quarts are introduced. The metric system also makes an appearance with the introduction of the gram("not your parent's mothers") and kilogram. The book nicely concludes with a chart of the measurements introduced.
The use of cartoon animals and familiar objects make this book fun even as it teaches. The concept of weight is simplified in a way that is accessible to children unfamiliar with English and metric measurements. This book would be a nice addition to a 1-3 grade math class in which teachers are looking to include more math related readings.
The use of cartoon animals and familiar objects make this book fun even as it teaches. The concept of weight is simplified in a way that is accessible to children unfamiliar with English and metric measurements. This book would be a nice addition to a 1-3 grade math class in which teachers are looking to include more math related readings.
January 16, 2009
Saucy cartoon-style illustrations and catchy rhyme make this gritty ditty so much fun it just may etch examples and relative sizes of ounces, grams, pounds, tons and tonnes into unsuspecting little minds.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
July 22, 2013
CONTAINS: ounce, pound, tons, scale, gram, kilogram, metric ton
This book contains the measurements listed above. It tells and show benchmark measurements such as a gram is the weight of a paper clip, and an ounce is a slice of bread. These are the same benchmark objects that we tell the students.
This book would be a good introduction to weight. I could read this to them them do our measuring with the scales since it uses the same benchmark objects.
This book contains the measurements listed above. It tells and show benchmark measurements such as a gram is the weight of a paper clip, and an ounce is a slice of bread. These are the same benchmark objects that we tell the students.
This book would be a good introduction to weight. I could read this to them them do our measuring with the scales since it uses the same benchmark objects.
October 12, 2010
Grades K-3. Nonfiction Book. Rhyming text introduces terms for measuring weight in both the English and Metric systems. Examples of common object help students experience what a gram, ounce, kilo, etc, feel like.
April 23, 2012
This is a fun book to read during a lesson on weight. It incorporates all different units. This would be a great intro to a lesson that allows the students to get some hands on experience with weight.
November 19, 2012
This book would be a good introduction to the metric and English system of measurement. It's all in rhyme, so it would be fun to read. It includes puns and has wonderful descriptive illustrations that help with understanding the text.
October 15, 2008
I think these vocab/grammar books are always fun. This one has to do with weights so the series is branching out.
August 11, 2009
I loved the pictures and the way the author taught through rhymes. It was a great way to learn about weight.
May 17, 2010
The author introduces the essential measurement units. A good book to use to introduce measurement or as a review. The illustrations will engage the audience, and the examples given are wonderful!
August 31, 2010
Who knew that a giraffe weighs about the same as a female walrus?
September 8, 2011
even I learned something! :)
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April 2, 2013An exciting read aloud that explores weight. I love the vocabulary and diagrams used in this text and would be great for upper elementary grades.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews