Lots of help from readers on this. Many thanks to all.

One I especially liked: “Mr. Derbyshire, I cannot think of a better instruction in English grammar than a concerned parent not accepting mistakes in his children’s speech. No one is taught his first language, so it’s important to hear it right, so that mistakes strike the child’s ear as out-of-tune.”

Several readers told me to go to home-schooling websites, where there are lots of recommendations. Just google on “homeschooling,” or go here or here (Christian books) or here. Someone says Barnes & Noble have a homeschooling section on their website, though I can’t find it.

Other particular recommendations (NB– a lot of this stuff is out of print but can be found on used-book sites like Abebooks.com):

“Voyages in English,” available here, and multiply recommended.

“Primary Language Lessons,” by Emma Serl.

“English for the Thoughtful Child,” by Mary F. Hyde, originally published in 1908, revised and edited by Cynthia Shearer, www.greenleafpress.com.

McGuffey’s Readers.

“The Elements of Grammar,” by Margaret Shertzer.

“The English Reference Book,” published in 1952, by William B. Ravenel III, former Head of English at Episcopal High School in Alexandria.

“Painless Grammar,” by Rebecca Elliot, PhD (Barron’s, 1997). Absolutely great for kids, say the several readers who recommended this one.

“The New England Primer.”

“The Shurley Method: English Made Easy,” (Shurley Instructional Materials, Inc., Cabot, Arkansas). Lots of Shurley fans. Here’s a website.

(For adults, not kids) “A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language’” by Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartvik, Longman Group 1985 London & New York.

(For first and second grade) “First Language Lessons,” by Jessie Wise. This is available in the homeschooling section of Barnes and Noble. (For upper grades) “Harvey’s Elementary Grammar and Composition,” available here

“Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition.”

Thanks again to all who sent suggestions.