Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Brian P. Cleary grew up reading the bouncy rhymes of Dr. Seuss. A frustrated student and reluctant learner, Cleary daydreamed from class to class until being introduced to poetry in the third grade. Intrigued, he set on a course to explore the wonder of words.

Cleary began his professional creative endeavors early, when as a fifth grader he sold a joke to a radio station in Cleveland. He earned a degree in communications from John Carroll University and is now senior editor of the humor staff for American Greetings. In addition, he has written cartoon gags that have appeared in more than 600 newspapers worldwide, published humor essays for national and local magazines and newspapers, and created many children’s books.

As a humorist, writer, and poet, Cleary shows kids how to play with words. He believes that humor is not only a fun way to learn, but an effective way to teach. His best-selling Words are CATegorical series introduces young readers to different types of words through rhyming verse and illustrations of comical cartoon cats. He has been compared to the likes of Dr. Seuss, while his books of poetry and puns have been honored alongside the works of Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein. Fondly known as the “word nerd,” Cleary lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Brian Cleary's website