Behind the Mask: A Book about Prepositions

World of Language

by Ruth Heller

Through clever, rhyming text and boldly colorful illustrations, students and language lovers of all ages will enjoy exploring Ruth Heller's world of prepositions. "To say that Heller has a way with words is to understate a multifaceted talent."-- Publishers Weekly "Rhyming text...provides many examples of prepositions as well as some rules of usage. Large, colorful drawings illustrate the words imaginatively." -- Booklist

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Language, Childrens, School, Writing

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Author and illustration with a passionate interest in Korean culture. She lives with her husband in San Francisco, California.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this book so much that we want to read all the others by the author. I enjoyed it as much as the children. : ) Adored the prose with the prepositions highlighted for children to learn exactly what they are and how they are used, and the illustrations were very nice as well.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Heller’s parts of speech books. I haven’t actually read one for years but now I’m reading two in a row, two I discovered only very recently.

This one is particularly great. Most of the book’s text is a rhyme that manages to educate about prepositions and about how to use them properly. I’m embarrassed to admit that I learned two new things, but I’m grateful that I learned them. The words that are prepositions are shown in blue, which is a terrific help to learners.

My favorite illustrations were the pages with the dog and sleeping girl (until), the Jack and Jill page (with, at), and the merry-go-round page (despite, in front of, in back of) but I liked them all.

It’s a wonderful book for children who are learning this material. This book makes learning fun.

[Phil J · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I was teaching prepositions, I would use the heck out of this book. It lists not only the prepositions, but many rules and tips for using them. It even has some rules I didn't know, such as "angry with a person/angry at an object."

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text: 5 stars
Illustrations: 5 stars

Outstanding picture book about prepositions. Published in 1995, it's not recent, but prepositions haven't changed since then. The rhyming text manages to convey a lot of information. Both the meter and the rhymes feel very natural. All the prepositions in the book are blue and appear in a larger font size so that they stand out from the rest of the text.

The illustrations are stunning. Page layouts are superb as well. Love the mazes! The "Which one is different?" game is fun too. The blackboard full of prepositions is helpful.

An excellent resource for children to learn grammar in a fun, non-threatening way. Part of Ruth Heller's World of Language nonfiction picture book series about the various parts of speech. Highly recommend.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about prepositions and all the other books by Ruth Heller about other parts of speech are truly astounding. They are easy to read, easy to understand, provide clear examples of the rules as well as exceptions when appropriate and are just fun. Top that with the fact that Heller did her own illustrations, which are beautifuly done.

As an adult I found the explanation of various parts of speech to be clearer and easier to understand than any of the explanations I received in elementary, junior high and high school.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations highlight this book about prepositions. I wanted to get a few educational books for our girls while they are out of school for the summer and this certainly was appropriate and entertaining.

This is a fun book to read aloud. The illustrations are wonderful and the rhyming narrative makes you forget that you are learning something. In fact, occasionally I had to stop and reread a part to make sure we all got the point and weren't just mesmerized by the lyrical narrative and fanciful illustrations. We haven't talked too much about prepositions before, but our girls understood the concept well.

We've enjoyed reading the books in the World of Language series by Ruth Heller and we will certainly look for more of the books in her other series at our local library.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took this book out in hopes to help my child learn parts of speech in an engaging way. The art work was appealing as well as the rhythm but the text fell short for me. While some prepositions were highlighted, they weren't really explained. It seemed to get lost in the snappy poetic meter at the cost of actually explaining or illustrating the function of prepositions clearly. With that said, this book is marvelous for reinforcement. Once your child has the rudimentary understanding of prepositions, then this book is a nice way to reinforce that understanding. However, if we reached that point, I wouldn't bother with the book as I would need to work on other things with my child.

[Ashley Melton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivid pictures. It talks about various prepositions and when it is appropriate to use them. Excellent!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was impressed with this book, thought it was cute but Libby was not as impressed.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about prepositions. Unique pictures.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ellie rates this 2 stars and Jacob 1 star.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring your imagination, your sense of wonder and love of words to this magnificent book by Ruth Heller.

Illustratons are incredibly enticing, as is the cleverness, the plays on words. And the rhyming!

Here's to the author's contagious invitation to think, to explore, to learn, to reinvent our incredibly inventive English language!

"To say that Heller has a way with words is to understate a multifaceted talent."-- Publishers Weekly

FIVE STARS, of course.

[Kathy Brower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ruth Heller’s books for helping my kids understand grammar. This one about Prepositions is delightful.

[Tracy Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Alan Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a children's book it is a difficult read. I get the premise however, I am not a fan.

[10-11 Chase]

This is a very short but funny book.