Picture Books That Teach Grammar, Figurative Language, and Punctuation

Teachers, use these picture books as mentor texts to teach your kids about grammar like parts of speech, figurative language, and punctuation.

Parents, you can do the same thing!

These books are a fantastic way to introduce kids to the fun of our crazy English language’s rules. (Yes, I said fun. I know. Writers are weird.)

Picture Books that Teach Grammar

Table of Contents

Parts of Speech & Language
Figurative Language and Word Play
Punctuation

Picture Books That Teach Parts of Speech & Language

From nouns to adverbs, there is a picture book that can help. Use the books to teach or review parts of speech.

A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun? by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Jenya Prosmitsky
NOUNS
The author wants to show (not tell) you about nouns. Cute rhymes and playful illustrations illustrate his point. “Gown is a noun. Crown is a noun. // In fact, our whole hometown is a noun.“

Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day by Robin Pulver, illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed
NOUNS, VERBS
Outside at field day, the nouns stick with the nouns and the verbs stick with the verbs. That is until they realize that if they partner up, things will go better.

Verbs Say Go! by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Maira Chiodi
VERBS
Dahl is well known for his grammar books. In this picture book, he explains verbs using cute little green people doing, being, and feeling. Matching the cartoon characters, the verbs are written in green. Read this with your students and allow time to pause, question, and reflect.

If You Were a Pronoun by Nancy Loewen, illustrated by Sasra Gray
PRONOUNS
If you were a pronoun, what would you do? You’d take the place of a noun. “YOU could throw a party. YOU would invite HIM and HER and THEM and US.” The book emphasizes the pronouns with all capital letters.

Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is an Adverb by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Brian Gable
ADVERBS
Learn about adverbs quickly and clearly. (See what I did there?) “Adverbs tell us when and how. Like quickly do your homework now.” Super cute illustrations.

Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives by Ruth Heller
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives identify things by color, number, and size, among other things. Read playful examples of mysterious, gorgeous adjectives. . .

Over Bear, Under Where? by Julie Hedlund, illustrated by Michael Slack
PREPOSITIONS
You will laugh your way through this darling story about two friends, a bird named Under and a mole friend named Over. It’s a silly “Whose on First?” preposition-filled story about these two friends, Over and Under, who stand, cook, and play with each other. When they see Bear (who is between and behind) he and Dog join Over and Under at the park.

If You Were an Adjective by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Sara Gray
ADJECTIVES
This book reminds you that the elephant is a noun. Adjectives tell us about the elephant. (Gray, gigantic, wet.) If you were an adjective, this book tells you what you would do… Colorful illustrations and text make this visually appealing.

Adjectives Say Incredible! by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Lauren Lowen
ADJECTIVES
A cheerful book with adorable blue-circle characters who speak in dialogue bubbles with the adjectives written in blue.

Under, Over, by the Clover: What is a Preposition? by Brian P. Cleary
PREPOSITIONS
Goofy, cute cartoon cats act out how prepositions show where, time, and place. (I also like the book In, Over, and On the Farm by Ethan Long which isn’t specifically about prepositions but demonstrates their use perfectly.)

Bonus Parts of Speech Activity Idea

Apply your knowledge to parts of speech with a grammar sort. Use your cut-out words and make your own parts of speech books.

Picture Books That Teach Figurative Language, Grammar, and Word Play

If you’re wanting to teach your students to play with words and learn about figurative language, try these picture books.

The King Who Rained Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones The Great Dictionary Caper Cat Says Meow: And Other Animalopoeia Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk: What Are Similes and Metaphors? (Words are Categorical)Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story Ann and Nan Are Anagrams: A Mixed-Up Word Dilemma Mom and Dad are Palindromes

The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne
HOMOPHONES & HOMONYMS
I love this classic picture book. The illustrations say it all about the confusion of homophones and homonyms. The girl imagines what her daddy says about forks in the road with literal forks and the king who reigned. Super funny!

Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta
HOMOPHONES
Aunt Ant writes her dear deer about the zoo animal’s behavior. Like the Horse who is hoarse from humming a hymn.

The Great Dictionary Caper by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Eric Comstock
GRAMMAR / WORD PLAY

After the words escape from the Dictionary, it’s a romp through grammar and word play. Homophones, palindromes, rhyming words, anagrams, and more strut their stuff through the book’s pages until they’re called back inside the dictionary.

Cat Says Meow and other an*i*mal*o*poe*ia by Michael Arndt
ONOMATOPOEIA
How do I describe this unique typographic picture book of animal sounds and shapes? Well, prepare to be dazzled as you find the word in the animal image. Hear onomatopoeia and see animalopoeia! I LOVE this picture book!

A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer and Anne Wilsdorf
ONOMATOPOEIA
Rhythmic, repetitive, delicious words with alliteration and onomatopoeia make this an excellent book to read aloud to your children. Toad’s having quite a busy day; a day where he encounters may other creatures. He begins as he ends, on a twig in the middle of the puddle… Highly recommended as a mentor text.

“In the middle of a puddle

in the middle of a road

on a teeter-totter twig sat a teeny-tiny toad //

Snap! went the twig //

Up! went the toad.”

Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk by Brian P Cleary, illustrated by Brian Gable
SIMILIES / METAPHORS
Simple, funny explanations and examples teach kids about similes and metaphors. Adorable cartoon-like illustrations decorate this picture book mentor text.

Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story by Loreen Leedy
SIMILES
Follow Rudy as he pokes Babette which turns into a fun chase across town. These smilies are cliches but their use makes the point for kids just how similes can work in a story.

Ann and Nan are Anagrams: A Mixed-Up Word Dilemma by Mark Shulman & Adam McCauley
ANAGRAMS
Anagrams are words that when mixed up spell different words or phrases using all the letters. The authors make it easy to tell by putting the anagrams in similar fonts and tell the story of a mixed-up word world. Use this wordplay picture book in the elementary classroom. “Bring me to your AUNT. She’s A NUT.” “Poor Grandma! What a VILE, EVIL way to LIVE.”

Mom And Dad Are Palindromes by Mark Shulman, illustrated by Adam McCauley
PALINDROMES
Bob’s teacher, Mis Sim, shows him that there are palindromes everywhere. Palindromes are words that are the same forwards and backward. Find the 101 palindromes in this silly picture book!

Picture Books That Teach Punctuation

I absolutely adore these punctuation picture books, so do kids. You’ll love how these picture books make punctuation playful.

Semicolons, Cupcakes, and Cucumbers Little i Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!The Girl’s Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can’t Manage without Apostrophes!Exclamation Mark

Semicolons, Cupcakes, and Cucumbers by Steve Newberry
PUNCTUATION
These four punctuation mark friends want to play together but what should they do? They all have different ideas that will crack you up. Believe it or not, this is a totally hilarious picture book about… punctuation!! Teachers and homeschoolers, you’ll want this in your repertoire of picture books. (My favorite punctuation mark is the butterfly-loving, slightly confused Question Mark.)

Little i by Michael Hall
PUNCTUATION, CAPITAL LETTERS
Teachers, this will make a fun read-aloud and mentor text! Little i travels to find his missing dot and discovers punctuation: commas and a period as well as a delightful surprise at the end. He’s grown into a word: I.

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: Why Commas Really Do Matter by Lynne Truss, illustrated by Bonnie Timmons PUNCTUATION – COMMAS

HILARIOUS! “Slow children crossing” vs. “Slow, children crossing” Commas matter. They change the entire meaning of sentences. This picture book will prove that point to kids.

The Girl’s Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can’t Manage without Apostrophes! by Lynne Truss, illustrated by Bonnie Timmons
PUNCTUATION – APOSTROPHES
Where DO you put an apostrophe anyway? Silly examples and illustrations show you how meanings will change. “The dogs like my dad.” or “The dog’s like my dad.” Ha, ha.

Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
PUNCTUATION – EXCLAMATION MARK
I love this book so much. It’s the journey of the exclamation mark. He stands out. But he wants to fit in. Until he realizes his purpose. You’ll love this wonderful message which is also a great book for teaching about punctuation marks.

Exclamation Points Say Wow by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Chris Garbutt
EXCLAMATION POINT
In this picture book about punctuation, the exclamation points are backstage at the theater. Learn what they do and read the examples of exclamation points making their…uh, point.

Commas Say Take a Break by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Chris Garbutt
COMMAS
Commas are never in a hurry to explain the commas who narrate this story and share tips in dialogue bubbles. While some text explains what commas can do, the rest is a story about a whale and his friends, the jellyfish and the seagulls, who write letters to the whale when she’s on a trip. I’m so impressed by how skillfully the story and the instruction are woven together.

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