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Books That Teach Adverbs
If you teach adverbs, the following children's books can help -- adding a little fun and some 'real world' examples to your lessons. Nothing like seeing it in action. If you have students who are struggling with adverbs, hopefully one or more of the books below can help. They were written specifically for this purpose. :) Adverbs can be a tricky for kids. Actually, they are even tricky for many adults. For example, how many times have you seen 'ly' incorrectly omitted in commercial signage, like: "Slippery surface. Walk slow." Maybe teachers should carry Sharpies! We must save the adverbs. :)
For other parts of speech, visit our list of books for teaching language arts.
If You Were an Adverb by Michael Dahl
In this charmingly illustrated book, readers learn about what adverbs are and when and how to use them. For example, "Verbs tell
us something happened. If you were an adverb, you could tell us how
something happened. The snowboarder skied GRACEFULLY down the
mountainside but he fell AWKWARDLY at the bottom." Includes a glossary, a game that helps teach adverbs, and suggested websites. Another hit in the Word Fun series.
Interest Level: 1st grade - 4th grade
Suddenly Alligator: Adventure in Adverbs
A young boy decides that after three months of wearing the same pair of socks, it's time to buy a new pair. So, he heads into town through the swamp but has a frightening encounter with an alligator. What will he do? This book was written specifically to teaching adverbs, and indeed the text is "replete with adverbs" making it "a useful read-aloud when introducing a unit on the parts of speech." (School Library Journal)
Interest Level: 1st grade - 4th grade / DRA: 20 / Lexile: 570L / Guided Rdg: L / Grade Equiv. 2.4
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What is an Adverb?
With
the same liveliness
and zaniness of their previous books, Cleary and Gable are back, this time to teach adverbs. Bouncy verses define adverbs ("Adverbs tell us
when and how, / Like, quickly do your homework, now") and then give a
seemingly endless list of examples which are printed in color to make
them stand out from the text. School
Library
Journal said
"The energy and sheer
razzmatazz...will have young grammarians entranced." And Kirkus Reviews commended it for "...effectively
explaining a potentially boring subject through a bouncy rhyming text
filled with puns and jokes that will appeal to kids."
Interest Level: Grade 2-5 / DRA: 34 / Lexile: 860L / Guided Rdg: O / Grade Equiv.: 3.7
Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally: More About Adverbs
The Words are Categorical series team is back with another "jolly treatment of the topic" (Booklist). This book shows rather than just tells students what adverbs are and
how to use them. As with its predecessor, this book features comical
cartoon cats doing all manner of zany things. Rhyming verses are replete
with adverbs that are color coded based on whether they convey when,
where, how often... If you teach adverbs and are looking for lots of examples, this is a great pick!
Interest Level: 2nd grade - 4th grade
Up, Up and Away: A Book to Teach Adverbs
An introduction to adverbs, using bright, oversized illustrations, in Ruth Heller's trademark stye. A lot of ground is covered in this book, from a basic introduction to adverbs all the way to
superlatives, irregular adverbs, and double negatives." (Too much for one book? We're undecided). Fans of the World of Language series will definitely want this book as well. In their review, Booklist said "using expansive color drawings
and catchy rhymes, Heller writes about words frequently and vividly and
with an unmistakable flourish...A clever introduction."
Interest Level: 2nd grade - 4th grade / Grade Equivalent: 3.1 / Lexile Measure: 480L
The Big Problem: Understanding Adjectives and Adverbs
In The Big Problem (and the Squirrel Who Eventually Solved It),
the squirrels have a problem. A BIG, POLKA-DOTTED problem. And they're
watching NERVOUSLY, CURIOUSLY to see what it will do next. This goofy
little story, complemented by informational back matter, is great to use if you teach adverbs and/or adjectives. This book is part of the "Language on the Loose" series.
Interest Level: 2nd grade - 4th grade
Tillie's Tuba (Grammar Tales series)
Tillie plays her tuba loudly. She plays her tuba proudly. She plays it early and late, day and night. Learn all about adverbs in this wacky tale about a girl and the tuba she just can't put down. Pages include small call-out boxes that help further teach adverbs -- what they are, how they are used to create great writing, and asks questions to check understanding.
This book is part of Scholastic's Grammar Tales series of funny stories designed to help kids grasp the essential rules of grammar. These are actually really great resources for teachers!
Interest Level: 2nd grade - 4th grade
The Maestro Plays by Bill Martin Jr.
This playful tribute to adverbs is full of vibrant cut-paper illustrations and features a clown--the Maestro--who plays a progression of instruments flowingly, glowingly, knowingly... "The book's mischievous type, rompish rhyme and dazzling colors will keep youngsters turning the pages... quickly, contentedly, repeatedly." (Publisher's Weekly) This could be a fun book to supplement your adverb lesson plans, since "Martin achieves most of his rhymes by using adverbs ending in 'ly.' Thus the musician plays at various times 'proudly,' 'loudly,' 'dizzily' or 'wildly.' An infectious rhythm builds, at times lapsing into nonsense, but resulting in an almost perfect coupling of text and illustration." (School Library Journal)
Interest Level: 2nd grade - 4th grade
Enjoy the books!
Betsy, Cindy, and Virginia (the teachers/sisters behind this website)
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