The best thing is the phonetic spelling listed with each phrase or word. No grammar, no real in-depth Spanish rules or anything like that, but enough on each topic to actually give students a chance to communicate when they can't think of what to say! My High school students down to my 8 year olds all have enjoyed this book in and out of class.There's no place to write in it or do any work, which is again pleasing to the student - it's portrayed as "Don't let the adults catch you reading this!" which seems to encourage the students to read it, but I don't know if everyone would approve of that message...Of course, there will always be regionalisms, so it won't EXACTLY match the "street Spanish" you hear necessarily, but it's a great place to start!Cute little illustrations as well. For a younger child, and something you'd like to be able to write in, try Flip Flop Spanish, which comes with a CD!