We are kicking off our summer learning blog series with a a series of grammar-teaching books for elementary aged students.  Because--grammar struggles are pretty common for both girls and boys during those elementary school years--and it is often left up to Mom and Dad to fill in some educational gaps over those summer months to get students on pace for the upcoming school year!  Today, we have the Emma series by Dana & Amber Wall--and this series offers parents some piece by piece help with basic, grammar education.   

 



We received a complimentary copy of each of the first four books of this grammar themed, children's series.  All opinions are our own.

Emma Has a Dilemma

What did we think of Emma has a Dilemma?  This is actually a very cute story following little Emma as she realizes that she did not quite understand the differences between nouns and pronouns during her latest grammar (language arts) test--and Wizard Jake teaches her the basics via a rhyming story/dialogue. The book does a really nice job of explaining the differences between nouns and pronouns in a fun way.  Readers will find accurate examples and a short and simple story.  I flinched a bit at the inconsistencies in the punctuation of the dialogue and the rhyming lines.  While, I was distracted by the punctuation--the kids were focused on the message of the book--and getting to the meat of the noun and pronoun differences and didn't really notice the inconsistencies.   In spite of my punctuation hang-ups--this book really puts nouns/pronouns in the proper spaces and creates a quick, easy, painless (probably even fun) launching point toward some summer learning worksheets, printables, or quiz style noun/pronoun recognition.

Available on Amazon


Emma's All Gloom as She Cleans her Room

Book cover for Emma's All Gloom as She Cleans her Room
 
What Did we Think of Emma's All Gloom as She Cleans her Room?  This book seems to assume that you know Emma (and her grammar woes) without any "refresher" and that you expect Wizard Jake to swoop in and teach Emma a lesson.  This time--the grammar lesson seems rather quick--and thrown in.  Readers learn a handful of conjunctions and Emma's homework is done while she cleans her room.  The inconsistent punctuation bothered me less in this book than the first.

Emma Jane Goes on a Plane

Book Cover for Emma Jane Goes on a Plane
 
What did we think of Emma Jane Goes on a Plane?  Readers take a quick look at metaphors and similes in this story.   This book does let readers sense that Wizard Jake appears to help Emma with grammar homework.  The relationship between metaphor and simile is a bit more difficult to distinguish with Emma's dialogue--but, it offers a great starting point into the subject with its examples.

Emma Beams during a Wonderful Dream

Book Cover for Emma Beams during a Wonderful Dream

 
What did we think of Emma Beams during a Wonderful Dream.   This book lets readers consider a brief look at comparatives and superlatives.  This subject is a little more difficult for readers of the book's intended age range to understand--and I'm not sure that the few examples really clarify this grammar distinction much for children reading on their own.

Available on Amazon


Final Thoughts on the Emma grammar book series by Dana & Amber Wall? 


The Emma series serves a need for younger elementary aged readers.   My oldest daughter read very well--and, she wrote very, well-structured sentences and paragraphs in her early elementary school years.  Unfortunately, we discovered, that while she could read all of the words and, generally, write well structured sentences--she did not always understand the words that she wrote or understand WHY she wrote sentences in the way that she did.  She just wrote in a manner that "sounded" right--since proper grammar was spoken at home. She "passed" as above average until 3rd grade...when Language Arts class questions became more direct.  More specific.  She did not understand the differences between nouns and pronouns or the differences between metaphors and similes without a lot of work at home. Kids love patterns and routines--and this book series offers parents a developing, SET of grammar "lessons" for elementary aged kids.

Readers should study the lesson/topic at hand & keep the series audience in perspective. There are some grammar/punctuation inconsistencies in each and every one of these books.  These inconsistencies made the writer in me cringe during the first book...and step back to re-evaluate the series as a whole from a grammar-teaching standpoint.   THEN.  my 11 year old daughter said--"Younger kids who are struggling with grammar won't notice the missing punctuation--they are struggling with basics...like nouns and verbs and terms--and those mistakes may actually help them relate to the story.  It shows readers that Emma isn't perfect--and it's Emma's story."  Hmm.  Interesting perspective--and maybe a valid one for parents.  Readers need to look at ONLY the grammar topic at hand (pronouns/superlatives/conjunctions/etc.) ...and let the series build.  By the 3rd book--I found myself better able to focus on the grammar topic rather than my quirks with inconsistencies and punctuation.

Would I recommend the Emma Series by Dana & Amber Wall?  If your child is struggling with the basic terms and ideas presented in grammar--or has yet to learn them at all--check into this series from the beginning.  The definitions and examples of each grammar topic offer great launching points to find additional grammar related worksheets and educational resources to further this initial introduction.  Is the series perfect?  No.  The actual grammar lessons presented are short--but, I actually like that.  I am a huge fan of learning without feeling like it's a textbook or a lesson!  Each book has its own grammatical glitches in more advanced punctuation and/or punctuation consistency.  BUT.  I am a huge fan of introducing a quick topic per week (in a fun, non-school-like format) over the summer to my kids--from each of their school/extracurricular activities/ subjects. This series certainly offers the opportunity to introduce (or review) a grammar area each week with each book in the series--and follow the series as it grows!  I am hoping that the books' punctuation and writing style of the books will grow with Emma as she learns more grammar skills through the series.

Meet the Authors

Dana and Amber Wall created the Emma series, starting with “Emma Has a Dilemma!,” because of their love of teaching grammar. Dana writes screenplays and is currently Head of Production for Bully Pictures. Amber is a junior honors student at Marymount High School in Los Angeles where she also serves as assistant editor for her school newspaper “The Anchor.” They currently live in Manhattan Beach, California.