Why, You Can’t Live Without Apostrophes

Posted: July 25, 2007 in books, school, teaching

My favorite grammar writer, Lynne Truss (of Eats, Shoots and Leaves fame) has written two children’s books. The Girl’s Like Spaghetti and Eats, Shoots and Leaves (the latter is a kids’ version). I had the chance to flip through them and was really impressed.

From the Amazon.com book description:

Just as the use of commas was hilariously demystified in Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!, now Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons put their talents together to do the same for apostrophes. Everyone needs to know where to put an apostrophe to make a word plural or possessive (Are those sticky things your brother’s or your brothers?) and leaving one out of a contraction can give someone the completely wrong impression (Were here to help you).

Full of silly scenes that show how apostrophes make a difference, too, this is another picture book that will elicit bales of laughter and better punctuation from all who read it.

The books appear at first glance to be aimed at early readers because of the picture book format. But the grammar examples are the type you’d learn in later elementary school. But then again, given the grammar I correct at school, I think even my high school kids would get something out of Spaghetti and Eats.

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