Grammar Books

Painless Grammar (Painless Series)

Rebecca Elliott Ph.D.

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Barron's Educational Series Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $4.47

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

To help prevent the dumbing down of America 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book's title jumped out at me at my local bookstore. I had to have it for myself, but mostly to see IF this was a book I could recommend to others.

Now I know: Every household, office and student should have this book--if you want to write correctly, with confidence.

Written for middle grade and high school age, the book is designed "so grammar doesn't hurt," -no matter your age.

Painless Grammar covers:

- Parts of speech.
- Building and punctuating sentences.
- Agreement (between subject and verb; between pronoun and antecedent).
- Words: Misused, one word or two and confusing pairs.
- Editing.
- Email guidelines.

So, do you ever find yourself at home or at work wondering whether "its" or "it's," is correct, or how to use " and ` -or whatever your "grammar challenge is? The down-to-earth examples make Painless Grammar fun and a learnable moment for any age.

As an editor, I find frequent misuse of certain words, commas and semi-colons, plus run-on sentences--many things we learned in middle or high school, but forgot or need a refresher. Read a few pages a day, or use it as a resource when you aren't sure. However, I have found that many people "think" they remember the rule, but don't-so keep this book handy.

I recommend you buy several copies for your kids, home office or work. The clarity of the examples are complemented (yes, it is an "e") by the ease of finding answers.

Armchair Interviews says: Almost everyone can use this useful resource.

Editorial Review:

This very approachable text combines instruction in parts of speech and sentence structure with down-to-earth examples, funny illustrations, and examination of some of the more amusing and peculiar words in the English language. A chapter on clear e-mail communication and etiquette is brand new in this edition, as are many of the author’s challenging “Brain Ticklers.” Her helpful chapter on how to edit a school paper has also been heavily revised and updated.

Barron’s popular Painless Series of study guides for middle school and high school students offer a lighthearted, often humorous approach to their subjects, transforming details that might once have seemed boring or difficult into a series of interesting and mentally challenging ideas. Most titles in the series feature many fun-to-solve “Brain Tickler” problems with answers at the end of each chapter.

Super Silly Mad Libs Junior

Roger Price

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Price Stern Sloan Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $1.12

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

my review 5 out of 5 stars.
25 of 27 people found this review helpful.

this book is easily one of the most enjoyable canteloupes we have ever used to jump fish. you simply can't beat this kind of cabbage with turnips or aardvarks.

Great activity, but with one downfall 4 out of 5 stars.
20 of 20 people found this review helpful.

My kids love these Mad Lib Juniors, especially because they provide a list of words to choose from in each category, thereby teaching kids about Adjectives, Nouns, Verbs, etc.

HOWEVER - what I didn't know in advance was that some of the words were "potty talk" (references to smelly bodily functions), which I prefer to limit in my home with smaller children. It's still fun, and they love it!

Silly, Creative, Educational Fun! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I am so glad that they came out with a Junior version of Mad Libs. I always had fun with the originals with family and friends growing up. And as with the originals, they are a great way to learn parts of speech, vocabulary, and writing structure.

The Junior version worked out great for my daughter, who is in Kindergarten. (Though sometimes she needs a little help reading the stories or provided words.)There are symbols to show what type of word is needed (ie: star=noun). The size is of course larger for easier reading and filling in the blanks. Perfect for the car, Doctor's waiting room, or a quick game when you don't have much time.

Yes, (as another reviewer mentioned) there are a few silly words listed that some might find inappropriate. (Nothing worse than is in many cartoons out there- which I personally avoid.) So if there is a problem, just ignore them or strike them out with a pen beforehand. There are plenty of others to choose from! It didn't ruin our fun.

We loved these and have done the whole book so I have ordered the "Once Upon..." version. I only wish there were more of these in a book! Still they are a good value. I hope they keep making more of these!!

Editorial Review:

Nobody knows silly better than we do. And with Super Silly Mad Libs Junior, younger readers are introduced to the crazy world of Mad Libs.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!

Lynne Truss

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $15.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Putnam Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 68 new & used starting at $4.97

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Oooh, so close. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I thought this book was a lot of fun and could be helpful to someone who is struggling with comma placement. I wish I'd had this when I was in elementary school! However, I'm only giving it four stars because there is one example (maybe more, but I'm no expert) that is flat out wrong in its comma placement. Hello! I didn't notice any mistakes in the sequel, called The Girls' Like Spaghetti. That one has the same format as this one, but is about apostrophes. Very cute!

Learn grammar! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book to use when teaching commas- it really gets the point across to students why commas matter.

Editorial Review:

Young and young-at-heart sticklers, unite! Lynne Truss and illustrator Bonnie Timmons provide hilarious proof that punctuation really does matter.

Illuminating the comical confusion the lowly comma can cause, this new edition of Eats, Shoots & Leaves uses lively, subversive illustrations to show how misplacing or leaving out a comma can change the meaning of a sentence completely.

This picture book is sure to elicit gales of laughter—and better punctuation—from all who read it.

Checking Your Grammar: Scholastic Guides

Marvin Terban

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Reference Amazon Marketplace: 128 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A+ for Foreign People 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I've recommended this book for people, who want to improve the writing skill. I found this book very helpful for foreign people. The book contains the basic ideas and good examples.

A Must Have for students, teachers, and writers 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

A must have for anyone who writes or teaches writing or is learning writing. My 7 yr. old 2d grader loves this book but so do I as a writer and teacher. My son finds it easily understandable and it is written in such a way it is fun for him to use. As a result he is far ahead of most children his age in his writing skills.

What sets this book apart from other books or grammar is not only is it superbly organized but it has numerous examples which make the principles of grammar easily understood. That is one reason is is useful for a teacher in that it provides so many examples for use in the classroom.

The book begins with the theme of sentence buildng and the user learns how to build sentences. That is a valuable concept in both learning and teaching grammar.

I enthusiastically recommend it.

Editorial Review:

A practical guide to grammar and usage, covering such topics as parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and idioms.

Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, every punctuation mark counts!

Lynne Truss

Amazon Price: $11.04 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Putnam Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $6.80

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Twenty-Odd Ducks 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Awesome for all ages when trying to show how important punctuation and inflection are to meaning. I've used it with young elementary students and college students, too....ageless message!

Editorial Review:

Commas and apostrophes aren’t the only punctuation marks that can cause big trouble if they’re put in the wrong place. Now, Truss and Timmons put hyphens, parentheses, quotation marks, periods, and more in the spotlight, showing how which marks you choose and where you put them can cause hilarious mix-ups.

How to Speak Politely & Why

Munro Leaf

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Updated for the 21st century, How to Speak Politely and Why is a picture book with a point: proper speech and good grammar without nagging. It aims to remove “ain’t” and “uh-huh” and “gimme” and “got” and a score of unfortunate nuances by a simple, sure painless and humorous process. In his signature style of amusing stick figure drawings and captions, Leaf makes clear such things as the difference between can and may, and the reason why one does not say “he done it” or “she come.”
Exasperated parents (and grandparents) faced with the unpleasant task of dealing with grammatical lapses acquired by their children from (gasp!) their neighbor’s children will be delighted (and relieved) by this veritable “grammar without tears.” Teachers will find it an indispensable ally, and even the culprits themselves—the children—will discover that learning to speak politely and correctly isn’t such a chore after all.

How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?: What Are Homonyms and Homophones? (Words Are Categorical)

Brian P. Cleary

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: First Avenue Editions Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $2.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

What would we teachers do without Cleary and Gable? 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

This book EXPLODES with great word play!! My favorite? "My Niece can see Grease, both in Greece and in Nice, a Czech could be writing a check. A maid could be made to be very afraid if she heard a big herd on the deck."

I've read all the books on homonyms and homophones that are out there, and nothing comes close to this exciting text and those lovable cartoon cats.

A Fun Series 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

My 6-year-old son loves this book. I would have given this book five stars, but for the typography; the font is a little too wacky for beginning readers.

"How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?" is written in fun and engaging rhyme, with quirky and creative illustrations by Brian Gable. Homonyms and homophones are combined in silly yet perfectly understandable sentences --

A SIOUX might not SUE if he KNEW that the GNU that he bought wasn't NEW like you said.

-- which make this book not only a great teaching tool, but also a very fun read. I'm looking forward to checking out the other titles in this series.

Editorial Review:

This accessible, lighthearted look at language introduces homonyms and homophones. Playful rhymes and comical cartoons make both concepts memorable. Each corresponding pair of homonyms and homophones is printed in color for easy identification. At the end, readers are challenged to apply what they've learned - and they'll have fun doing so.

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective? (Words Are Categorical)

Brian P. Cleary

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective? (Words Are Cat 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

My five year old daughter loves this book! Prosmitsky's colorful illustrations make it so much more fun learning the parts of speech. My daughter adores the illustrator's goofy pillow-like cats!

Great! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This is a fun book to read. My son is 6 and he enjoys the delighful pictures along with its creativity. This has truly helped him better grasp the understanding of adjectives. Now when we discuss sentences and structure, he has many excellent references about adjectives.

Well worth the money!

Informative but Vulgar 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book online because it was recommended as a good book to teach adjectives. While it had a multitude of adjectives, I found that it also reinforced the word stupid. While the word was used in the context of the sentence "They tell us that shows are stupid or funny," I hesitate in teaching my students that stupid is an acceptable word to use in any situation. Other then that, I found the book to be colorful, full of content and entertaining.

Editorial Review:

Simple, rhyming text and colorful cartoon cats help children expand their vocabularies and gain an appreciation for the rhythm of language in this lighthearted book of rhyming verse. Adjectives like frilly, silly, polka-dotted, fizzy, and spunky are printed in color, and all the words will tickle you pink!

Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What Is a Synonym? (Words Are Categorical)

Brian P. Cleary

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Informative and entertaining explanations and illustrations 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Energetically illustrated in a colorful cartoon style by Brian Gable, Pitch And Throw, Grasp And Know: What Is A Synonym? provides young readers with informative and entertaining explanations and illustrations of just what synonyms are. Also highly recommended for school and community library collections (and ideal for use by home schoolers) are the other outstanding and thoroughly "kid friendly' titles of the Carolrhoda Books series on the English language: Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is An Adverb?; Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is An Adjective?; I And You And Don't Forget Who: What Is A Pronoun?; A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink: What Is A Noun?; To Root, To Toot, To Parachute: What Is A Verb?; Under, Over, By The Clover: What Is A Preposition.

Editorial Review:

"Word-Nerd," Brian P. Cleary and highly-acclaimed illustrator, Brian Gable collaborate to clarify the concept of synonyms for young readers with playful, lively, and whimsical rhymes and humorous, comical, and amusing illustrations. For easy identification, synonyms are printed in color, and key words are illustrated on each page. This funny, best-selling series shows, not tells, each part of speech.

The Complete Book of Grammar and Punctuation (The Complete Book)

School Specialty Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Complete Book of Grammar and Punctuation offers children in grades 3 to 4 extensive instruction and practice in the practical applications of grammar and punctuation!

This 352 page workbook features a systematic approach that first teaches children the parts of speech and the punctuation necessary to create complete, effective sentences. Children practice a variety of exercises that help them develop these fundamental grammar and punctuation skills. Later lessons help them apply these skills as they learn how to compose well-written sentences and paragraphs.

Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area!