Miss Myrtle Frag, the Grammar Nag

Through fictional questions and responses, and help from Prettycat Predicate, the Crazy Phrase-ees, and the Kingdom of Grammelot, presents basic grammar rules and usage from punctuation to sentence construction.

Gr 5 Up-This small book contains a great deal of basic information on grammar that is easy to understand. Each section (with one exception) begins with a black-and-white drawing of Miss Myrtle Frag, a blackboard announcing the grammar rule(s) in question, and a student or two. Next comes a letter to Miss Frag from a student or teacher in distress, accompanied by a cartoon. Each letter is formatted in a different font, which makes for variety but occasionally makes it difficult to read. Miss Frag then responds to this letter with humor, sometimes with biting sarcasm, and always using the same font style. Each response contains a story involving such colorful characters as Colonel Colon, Tommy Commy and his sister Dot, Prettycat Predicate, and an amusement park called Wordyworld. The sections conclude with the rule, examples, and further clarification. This is a clever book and, while younger students may not always understand the wit in the letters, all will enjoy the stories. Whether read individually or aloud to a class, these amusing tales will get the attention of students. A nice change of pace when used in conjunction with more traditional methods of teaching grammar.-Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.