BrainJuice: English, Fresh Squeezed!

by Carol Diggory Shields, Tony Ross (Illustrations)

Only Carol Diggory Shields could reduce a whole body of knowledge to forty incisive, hilarious, and all-encompassing poems!
In this newest addition to the BrainJuice series, Carol Diggory Shields undertakes to impart all the really important facets of the English language -- and impart she does! Do you want the last word on punctuation? Spelling? Diagramming a sentence? Drafting a letter, keeping a journal, writing poetry? No aspect of English is left unexamined, and both students and teachers will not only find BrainJuice: English extremely cool, but they will be forever grateful to the author for supplying them with "36 Ways to Say Cool" (see sample below*).
Supporting the author's heroic efforts to make English funny, comprehensible and comprehensive, as well as irresistible, Tony Ross offers art that is funny, comprehensible, comprehensive, and extremely irresistible!
*A small sampling from "36 Way to Say Cool": Groovy, great, the cat's meow, awesome, chill, phat, wow, marvy, dandy, swell, divine, nifty, peachy-keen, fine!

Genres: Poetry, Education

64 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2004

About the author

Carol Diggory Shields was inspired to write Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp after "being called a Nagosaurus by my five-year-old," she admits. "I started playing with the idea of partying dinosaurs who were scientifically accurate (more or less), and somehow in the prehistoric ooze of my brain, Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp took shape." Her rocking prehistoric party proved a hit with both young readers and critics. "Witty and imaginative, the poem has a rhythm that makes cumbersome multisyllable dinosaur names roll off the tongue," said Kirkus Reviews.
Currently a children's librarian, Carol Diggory Shields has also worked with children as a recreational therapist and at one time was a designer of stuffed toys. Her years of being around children have no doubt helped her get a feel for the fun-but-factual stories that kids love, told in animated verse with an infectious beat. After successfully collaborating with illustrator Scott Nash on Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, she teamed up with him for Martian Rock, "the true story of how a meteorite from Mars arrived on Earth," she quips.
More recently, the pair worked together again on The Bugliest Bug, a wacky tale of an insect talent contest threatened by hungry spiders (disguised as judges) and a brave little Damselfy who saves the day. "Insects are awesome!," the author enthuses. "Every human invention, from catapults to jet propulsion, had already been invented and used by bugs for millions of years. And that's why to be 'bugly' is the ultimate compliment."
The author of several books for children, Carol Diggory Shields lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love clever ways of educating. This book presents grammar/writing facts in fun poems. But my favorite part is the quotes at the top of the pages. One of my favorite examples is, "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." (Muriel Ruykeyser)

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny collection of poems about all things English class from grammar rules to oral reports. A great resource for reviewing skills and concepts students have learned in prior years.

[Karen Bessin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some creative approaches to the English curriculum--a good way to open up dialogue with students on topics such as punctuation, outlining, similes and metaphors, alliteration, and meter.