A Cache of Jewels [Hardcover]

Ruth Heller (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Rhyming text and illustrations introduce a variety of collective nouns such as a "drift of swans" and a "clutch of eggs."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In light verse and brightly colored pictures, Heller provides an introduction to a specialized part of speech, the collective noun. She lists and depicts more than 25, including such familiar terms as "batch of bread" and "bunch of bananas," as well as more unusual phrases: "gam of whales," "muster of peacocks" and "parcel of penguins." The concept will stimulate the curiosity and imaginations of children with an ear for language. The illustrations, containing large, bold objects in simple yet striking compositions, ensure a visually inspiring exploration as well. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1 ``A muster of peacocks,'' ``a kindle of kittens,'' and other familiar and unusual collective nouns form the text of Heller's book. Bright, richly-colored oil pencil and line drawings enliven each set of objects, and some are exceptionally life-likeone can practically hear the crunch of the crusty loaves of bread and smell the bananas. Each group of items is presented in rhyme, which is remarkably smooth and unforced until the last page, when an explanation of the concept of col lective nouns, more suited to simple prose, intrudes. While ``. . .Jewels'' can be used to help children learn about parts of speech, its principal charm lies in the illustrations and the vocabulary itself, which will delight small eyes and ears. Kathleen Brachmann, Highland Park Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (October 23, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044819211X
• ISBN-13: 978-0448192116
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,356,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Writing and illustrating my own books have given me the opportunity to choose subjects of interest to me."--Ruth HellerAfter 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 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."On October 31, 1995, Grosset & Dunlap continues Heller's parts-of-speech books with the publication of Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions, a clever, thoughtful, eye-pleasing explanation of just how prepositions tell us about the "when" and "where" of things.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool Grouping Terms, For Kids To Learn, September 18, 2000

By 

Paul Martin (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cache of Jewels (Hardcover)

Good fun for 3-8 yrs. Everybody knows that a group of fish is a school, or a bunch of ships is a fleet. But what do you call several peacocks, or a group of kittens, or a gathering of witches? Puzzeled?

This is the first childrens book I have come across that could answer those questions for children, with many more collective nouns to spare. Good illustrations, relatively quick read, and interesting and easy for children to follow. Mega points for originality!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous illustrations!, July 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Cache of Jewels (World of Language) (Paperback)

In addition to being a great way to learn about what groups of objects are called (I even learned a few new ones) the vibrant colors of the illustrations are incredible. I even got a used copy to take apart so I could put some of the pictures up in my son's playroom - they are that nice.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A literate and fun exploration of collective nouns, January 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Cache of Jewels (Hardcover)

This is a great way to teach about collective nouns. It also makes a great starting point for students' own writing pieces and word collections.