The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can't Manage without Apostrophes!

by Lynne Truss

Other authorsBonnie Timmons (Illustrator)

Hardcover, 2007

Status

Checked out

Due May 14, 2024

Call number

E Tr

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

E: EVERYBODY Books, bottom shelves (RED label)

Publication

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (2007), 32 pages

Description

See how using (or not using) an apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence.

Local notes

1912-138

User reviews

LibraryThing member laurenryates

This book, which is a companion to Eats, Shoots and Leaves, is about apostrophes. It gives examples of how putting an apostrophe in the wrong place can completely change the meaning of the sentence. For example, just moving the apostrophe from in front of the letter S to behind it can change, "The

giant kids' playground" to "The giant kid's playground". The first having the emphasis on the playground being giant and the latter meaning the kid is giant. The illustrations in the book really help for the reader to see how this little mark can make a sentence have a hugely different meaning.

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LibraryThing member msequeira06

Compares a sentence with an apostrophe to a sentence without an apostrophe (ex: the giant kids' playground/the giant kid's playground). Subtly shows how to appropriately use apostrophes without deliberately stating the uses. Genre: Informational because no part of the story is fiction, but instead

is just stating truths. The setting is mainly at school, but also carries over to a house. The setting did not play a vital role in the story, but simply aided in understanding.

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LibraryThing member tlcalderon4

Lynne Truss continues her fight to raise awareness of the importance of punctuation as she did with Eats, Shoots & Leaves in this companion text that stresses the importance of the apostrophe. An informative introduction sets the purpose of the book by relating the apostrophe’s tireless jobs as a

“Good Punctuation Fairy.” The rest of the book contains humorous paired illustrations that show the difference a misplaced or missing apostrophe creates in meaning. For example, an illustration showing stinky shoes is cited with “Those smelly things are my brother’s” while its related picture showing boys playing in the garbage goes with the caption “Those smelly things are my brothers.” Readers will enjoy the silly juxtapositions the punctuation problems produce. At the end of the book, Truss explains each of the rules that apply to the illustrations in the book to recap the roles of the apostrophe.

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LibraryThing member eamill

Lynne Truss introduces this text as a 'thank you' to the apostrophe for the many jobs it does in our language (this thank you is her way of defining the apostrophe). I think that is a great way to describe this picture book because it helps kids and adults alike realize how important apostrophes

truly are. Each two page spread offers two very different interpretations of the same group of words as the meaning is changed according to the apostrophe placement (or lack there-of). Truss does an excellent job at making this book very interesting and fun, but also very educational. At the end of the book there are tips on how to explain the images to kids.

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LibraryThing member paulaanweiler

This is a great book to teach the importance of apostrophes. Its a very cleaverly written and illistrated book.

LibraryThing member klsulliv

Does anyone really know why we use funny symbols like the apostrophe that can be placed at the end of some words? Well, wonder no more because "Girl's Like Spaghetti" will explain how ownership is shown through the usage of an apostrophe. This book is excellent for demonstrating the different

meanings when one uses or does not use an apostrophe. Once one reads "Girl's Like Spaghetti," he or she will always remember why it is important to use the apostrophe when necessary. Everyone needs to be able to communicate effectively in life in order to accomplish tasks, for example, and by using correct grammar and punctuation, one can effectively communicate with someone who would understand.

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LibraryThing member amclellan0908

Tackling one serious, societal, grammatical issue at a time, Truss wittily illustrates the importance of having commas in appropriate places and how an innocently misplaced comma alters the entire meaning of a sentence (e.g. "Driver's wanted. Apply Within." While this book is probably designed for

a younger audience, I keep the book available as a reference for older student writers who struggle with apostrophe misplacement.

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LibraryThing member Bethany1221

This book was very informational. This story was about apostrophes. It shows how placing apostrophes in a sentence can change if there is more than one or just one person you are referring too. This book is a helpful learning tool that can even be used in a classroom to get children to understand

where to place apostrophes.

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LibraryThing member jaimie919

What a great book to show children the importance of apostrophes. It is very comical and it makes learning fun. It shows what a word would mean with out an apostrophe, which makes some sentences very funny. It is full of great illustrations and children will love it.

LibraryThing member dukefan86

Fun, clever lesson on appropriate apostrophe use! :) Colorful, cute illustrations help, and the examples are funny.

LibraryThing member Desirichter

Any book that makes me laugh out loud more than 3 times in less than 20 pages gets 5 stars. I didn't think it possible to make learning about apostrophes fun, but Truss and Timmons drive the lesson, that even small changes in placement or removal of an apostrophe lead to major changes in meaning.

The pictures make the book, and the laughs.

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LibraryThing member lbblackwell

According to Lynn Truss, "the apostrophe is the most helpful of all the punctuation marks." Do you agree? Examine her examples of common errors and decide for yourself. Be sure to look at the pictures that accompany the mistakes for an even more enjoyable experience!

LibraryThing member emilyann93

This book makes you think about grammar. The apostrophe is in places that it shouldn't be. When adding the apostrophe in the wrong place, it sends you the wrong message. I think this book would be confusing for young children to under the point of where the apostrophe should go. I think this book

would be suitable for grades 5-8

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LibraryThing member jenniferm14

This wonderful mentor text teaches the importance of the correct placement of apostrophes. Through creative illustrations, students are able to visually see how the placement of apostrophes change meaning. This informative book is appropriate for second through fourth graders.

LibraryThing member MeganSchneider2

Just like the similar book about commas, this book does an excellent job with showing the importance of apostrophes. This would be a great book for teachers who are teaching a lesson on punctuation.

LibraryThing member bxr032

The Girl's Like Spaghetti is a great book when it comes to showing how to write complex sentences in the correct format. The book illustrates the differences between the uses of the apostrophes and semicolons. This is great for 3rd grade to college level students.

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