In exchange for my honest review, Reader’s Digest books gave me two free grammar books, pictured above. These are wonderful, hardback books that I am pleased to add to our reference library.
At the end of this post is information about how you can win your own copies. So be sure to enter and spread the word.
The Books
The red book is Write (Or Is That “Right”?) Every Time: Cool Ways to Improve Your English by Lottie Stride.
This book would be suitable for upper elementary or middle school students. It has humorous illustrations and a modern font. All the basics of English are covered: parts of speech, parts of the sentence, spelling, and punctuation. It is a quick overview, just enough to jog your memory or provide a sample sentence. There are no exercises or assignments. This is not a textbook but a simple reference book.
The white book is My Grammar and I . . . Or Should That Be Me?: How to Speak and Write It Right by J.A. Wines.
This book is a bit more advanced and more traditional than the other. I would recommend it for middle schoolers (and maybe on into 9th grade). There are no illustrations, but the text is laid out nicely with plenty of headings, subheadings, shaded areas, and offset boxes.
The topics are comparable to Write (Or Is That “Right”?) Every Time: spelling, parts of speech, sentences, and punctuation. Oddly enough, the book has no index. So you have to rely on the table of contents to find what you need.
My Grammar and I is more of a living book than the Write (Or Is That “Right”?) Every Time. It has more commentary and quirky details about the grammar being addressed.
How I Plan to Use These Books
I will certainly have these on the shelf for quick reference. I don’t expect to stop using our Write Source which is far more comprehensive, but sometimes having a “second opinion” is helpful.
Additionally, I think that I will assign sections of My Grammar and I for Sprite to read and narrate back to me, writing her own example sentences to illustrate the facts.
Giveaway Details
Three winners will receive copies of both books in a format of their choice — either hardback or ebook.
[Note: Hardback books are an option only for people living in the USA. International winners will win ebook versions.]
How to Win
Leave me a comment here telling me what you use for a grammar reference, if any. Simple! I’ll randomly choose a winner (via And The Winner Is WordPress plugin) on August 26, a week from today.
I’d use these books to start my reference library.
I have used a couple of grammar reference books from my college days, and sometimes I google the answers to my questions! These books look like a great addition! Thanks for offering them to us! Laurin
this would be a great reference book as we don’t have any.
We are just at the beginning of grammar instruction in our homeschool, as my oldest is 6 years. However, my mom is always my grammar reference. She was an English teacher and is a grammar nut. She always remembers all the rules, like when you use lay and when to use lie. I can never remember that one!
No reference books yet, we’re still working on basics. This year’s goal is to improve writing… a reference book would be handy, I suppose!
Oh….No grammar reference book, yet… I would LOVE to have these!!!! The picture of the ‘monster’ makes it look really fun!
Recently, I decided against using a “canned” writing curriculum. Both my girls love to write, but our classical writing approach was killing that love for them both. When my little one saw me looking at Write Source samples she grew very excited. I recently ordered the 3rd and 6th grade handbooks to use next year and I’m hopeful writing will be an enjoyable experience for all of us, as it should be.
So far the only grammar book we’ve used is Easy grammar and I’m on the fence about continuing to use it…these look like wonderful books to have for reference!
This year, we are using Shurley English. Would love to have these as reference books.
I need a good grammar book for my eldest daughter…for the little one, I am still creating my own coloring pages for her.
Jimmie,
I have always favored the Write Source series as grammar references for my children. It was incredibly helpful to me to have them written more at their level rather than at a college/adult level like my other grammar references.
Well, right now I rely mostly on my own education and admittedly poor memory. :-). These books sound like they would make a nice addition to our reference collection, though.
I use G.U.M (Grammar, Usage, Mechanics) by Zaner-Bloser for my 6th grader. I’d like to win one of these too!
I use my old Harbrace reference book from college, just because I am familiar with it. I am getting my students comfortable using BJU Press or ABeka English handbooks. I like your review of these books. These seem more suitable for class work, than just reference books. I think that would make them more practical and students would probably use them more readily.
We have a couple books for reference. Write Right! A Desk Drawer Digest of Punctuation, Grammar and Style by Jan Venolia. 101 Ways to Boost your Writing Skills by Linda Williams Aber. How to Build a Better Vocabulary by Elizabeth A. Ryan.
My son has ADHD so variety is key.
My 15 year old wants to be an author and is constantly writing stories.I have not spent too much time working with her on grammar but she has requested help with it this year.These would be a wonderful gift.Thank you for giving us the chance to win these.: )
One of our grammar reference books recommended by you, Write Source 2000 and I found Elements of style at a book sale. It would be great to have these Readers’ Digest books in our collection!
I would love a set as we have yet to find a reference book for grammar!
Honestly, as the child of British, grammar-obsessed parents, I’ve had it drilled into my head for more decades than I care to recall! If we get stumped, which is rare, I phone Mum and Dad for the answer. 🙂 It would be nice to have a closer answer, though, so please enter me for the giveaway! 🙂
Hey Jimmie,
I don’t wish to be entered for the contest, I just wanted to mention that I picked up the same copy of Write Source from our thrift store in Germany. I recognized that it was a great little book which could hold our interest on the higher levels. We already have 2 lower level books from Write Source and this one was probably 50 cents. On a personal note, we have finally arrived in GA and our new home for the next 3 years. The house was not clean at all so in addition to finding space for everything I have had to do a deep clean on just about everything. It has made the homecoming a real pain, to say the least. Hope your new school year is going well. We start tomorrow and due to the disarray it will be slightly eclectic/unschooling for a few weeks.
I use Easy Grammar with my son and Rod and Staff for both of my daughters. My son needs a different way of learning. What you are offering looks really neat and if I don’t win, I am most definitely looking into those books!
We are using Daily Grams. I don’t have a reference book … use the Internet if needed … and would love to win these books. Thanks for the giveaway!
I got the Write Source book and Write for College free from paperbackswap.com and I plan to use them through the years. I remember received one of those books in high school and loving it!
We are using Painless Grammar for reference. Grammar and English have never been my strong suit. I use all the help I can get. ;0)
We just started using Painless Grammar as our reference guide. For curriculum my children are going into their 2nd year using Easy Grammar.
What a great contest offer for your readers! Good luck to all.
Fingers crossed.
I would LOVE to win these!! I have a sixth grader and a 3rd grader and this is our very first year to Homeschool so we do not have anything. =)
I have been searching for a good reference book. These look very interesting.
We use Painless Grammar as a reference, but there are a few things missing in it.
We use old Voyages in English textbooks
I still have my old Basic English Revisited from High School. I also have a Write Source book I picked up along the way that we refer to.