.In this humorous look at length, Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable introduce essential units—from pot

Ages 5-8 Reinforced binding
In this humorous look at
length, Brian P. Cleary and
Brian Gable introduce essential
units—from millimeters to
yards. The comical cats of
the wildly popular Words Are
C
ATegorical™ series show how
to measure length, width, and
height. Peppy rhyme, goofy
illustrations, and kid-friendly
examples make short work of
this tall topic.
To Renee
—B.P.C.
Length:
The distance
from one end
of something
to the other
A short note about length:
People in the United States and Canada have two systems to measure length.
One is called the English system, or the U.S. customary system. It uses inches,
feet, and yards. The other system is called the metric system, or International
System of Units. It uses millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, and meters. People
in many countries use only the metric system.
j
MILLBROOK PRESS / MINNEAPOLIS

4
A
t
a
b
l
e
,
a
t
e
a
c
h
e
r
,
a
b
u
i
l
d
i
n
g
,
o
r
c

r
e
a
t
u
r
e
,
a
s
t
u
f
f
e
d
t
e
d
d
y
b
e
a
r
t
h
a
t
y

o
u
’
v
e
t
r
e
a
s
u
r
e
d
,
5
what size are they all?
The big and the small?
Each one of these things
can be measured!
Ho
w long
or ho
w
tall
or ho
w
wide
is that
swing?

Len
gth answers the riddle
for large things or little.
6
7
O
r
y
o
u
r
r
i
n
g
?
O
r
a
d
i
n
o
s
a
u
r
w
i
n

g
?
Or the ladder that leads to the slide?
8
1 inch looks like this,
and it’s easy to miss,
because of its very small size.
INC
H
9
B
u
t
i
t
s
h
o
w
s
u
s
i
t
s
m
i
g
h
t

w
h
e
n
i
t
h
e
l
p
s
t
e
l
l
t
h
e
h
e
i
g
h
t
o
f
t
h
e
t

r
e
e
s
t
h
a
t
r
e
a
c
h
u
p
t
o
t
h
e
s
k
i
e
s
.
12 inches together
make
1 foot, so whether
you measure a desk or a door,

10
FOOT
11
each 12-inch-long line
is a definite sign
t
h
a
t
y
o
u
’
v
e
m
e
a
s
u
r
e
d
a
n
o
t
h
e
r

f
o
o
t
m
o
r
e
.
And see this—it’s cool—
inches live on this tool.
12
It’s a measuring stick
called a ruler.
the right size
for e
v
ery grade-schooler!
A
1
2
-
i
n
c
h
c
o
l
l

e
c
t
i
o
n
,
1
f
o
o
t
o
f
p
e
r
f
e
c
t
i
o
n
,
13
Now, 3 of these feet,
should they line up
and meet,
14

YAR
t
o
g
e
t
h
e
r
a
r
e
w
h
a
t
’
s
c
a
l
l
e
d
1
y
a
r
d
.

That’s 36 inches,
and here’s what the cinch is:
that’s also
3 feet—it’s not hard!
15
If you measured your bed
and the yardstick had said
16
t
h
a
t
y
o
u
r
h
e
a
d
b
o
a
r
d
’
s
e
x
a

c
t
l
y
3
f
e
e
t
,
is 1yard,
and you’re right—
or
36 inches—
how neat!
17
y
o
u
c
o
u
l
d
s
a
y
t
h
a

t
t
h
e
h
e
i
g
h
t
It’s really quite wise
when you’re measuring size
to know more than
only one system.
18
you’ll surely be able to list ’em!
19
T
h
e
t
e
r
m
s
h
e
r
e
a

r
e
f
u
n
,
a
n
d
b
e
f
o
r
e
w
e
a
r
e
d
o
n
e
,
It’s nearly as thin
as a need
l
e or pin.
1 inch holds almost 26.

20
MILLIMETER
I
t
’
s
s
m
a
l
l
e
r
t
h
a
n
m
o
s
t
f
l
e
a
s
a
n
d
t

i
c
k
s
!
t
h
a
t
’
s
t
h
e
w
h
o
l
e
t
h
i
n
g
r
i
g
h
t
h

e
r
e
.
P
u
t
y
o
u
r
f
a
c
e
r
e
a
l
l
y
n
e
a
r
,
21
Take your fingers and pinch
less than
half of 1 inch.

CENTIMETER
A
d
i
m
e
w
o
u
l
d
q
u
i
t
e
e
a
s
i
l
y
h
i
d
e
o
n
e
.

As small as it is,
when you’re asked on a quiz,
there are
10 millimeters
inside 1!
23