She Sells Seashells and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes Talking Turkey and Other Clichés We Say You're Toast and Other Metaphors We Adore

Gr 2—5—After a one-page explanation of the specific type of figurative language, these books launch into a story. The figures of speech always appear in a font different from the rest of the text to make them distinct. On each spread, text boxes explain how the figurative language in the story works and provide interesting trivia or historical notes. For example, in Tongue Twisters, readers learn that all languages feature these tricky phrases, and that in sign language, they are called finger fumblers. Each book concludes with a suggested activity. The titles on similes and metaphors include some examples not always found in materials for children, and Clichés and Metaphors also discuss idioms. Although these stories are definitely teaching tools, the full-spread illustrations help to contribute characterization and humor and make the books useful as classroom read-alouds.