What Is a Word Collector?
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
Some people collect rocks or stamps or art. Jerome collects words. He loves basking in their sound and look. But then Jerome finds something even better than collecting words...stringing them together and giving them away.
Whether you're introducing kids to the concept of strings of words forming sentences, or empowering them to use their words for good, this is a fantastic read. Kids should get introduced to some new vocabulary and go away inspired from this book.
- Target Readers: Language Arts Teachers/Classes, Reading Teachers/Classes, Kids Who Want to Use Words for Good, Curious Readers, Lower Grade Readers on up
Two Historical Word Collectors
W is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary by Tracey Fern, ill. by Boris Kulikov
A biographical picture book of Noah Webster that focuses on how his dictionary developed from Noah's personality and interests as a youngster to its evolution as he actually started to work on it, on to completion. Along the way some of the most important highlights of Webster's life outside of the dictionary writing are also mentioned but only in very broad terms.
An interesting book, though it definitely leaves a lot of gaps in Noah Webster's life to learn from other sources. This is just as much a biography of the American dictionary as it is of Noah Webster. Having read the middle grade/young adult biography Noah Webster: Man of Many Words by Catherine Reef I think I know why there are so few details about his life in this picture book biography. Webster was a bit of a piece of work outside of his dictionary work, and not the best role model for kids. Focusing on what he did accomplish that is admirable was probably the safest route for a picture book biography. Older readers who want more info can check out Reef's book on the eccentric word collector.
- Target Readers: Dictionary Appreciators & Studiers, Language History Fans, Word Collectors, Curious Readers, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, ill. by Melissa Sweet
A picture book biography of Peter Mark Roget. The book starts with Roget's childhood and follows him through to successful publication of his thesaurus in adult life. The book also touches on his many, many accomplishments outside of his thesaurus. He was quite the Renaissance man! Talk about opposite of Webster. Here's a man kids can look up to as a great role model. A very nice timeline with further details of Roget's life is provided in the back of the book along with informative notes from the author and illustrator. Also, beautifully illustrated!
- Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Multi-Talented People Biography Fans, Language History Fans, Synonym/Antonym Appreciators & Studiers, Art Lovers, Curious Readers, Award Winner Readers, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers
Two Books for People Wanting to Expand Their Vocabulary
What a Wonderful Word: a Collection of Untranslatable Words from around the World by Nicola Edwards, ill. by Luisa Uribe
A survey of words from around the world that convey thoughts that often just don't translate into one single word in any other language. Each spread shares one word with a related illustration and then about three paragraphs of text that talk about the word, the culture the language comes from, or something about the country where the language is spoken. This book does a fantastic job of picking words from a vast array of languages, including some pretty obscure ones and more familiar ones. There is a pronunciation guide in the back of the book but it comes with a warning that many of the languages are tonal so just a written pronunciation guide may not be enough to know how to say the word correctly.
- Target Readers: Language Collectors, Curious Readers, Language Lovers, Coffee Table Book Hunters, Quick Little Bite Readers, Middle Grade Readers on up
Lost in Translation: an Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words by Ella Frances Sanders
A look at 52 words from all over the world that just don't quite have an equivalent word in any other language and must be explained by a whole sentence (or sentences) if they are translated. The words relate to a little bit of everything from natural occurrences to emotions to things you may find in your home. Each word is presented in a two page spread. One page of the spread gives the word and definition with an illustration, the other page identifies the language it comes from and gives one paragraph of further information. I like this book a little bit better than What a Wonderful Word because the further information in this one flows and connects better.
- Target Readers: Language Collectors, Curious Readers, Language Lovers, Coffee Table Book Hunters, Quick Little Bite Readers, Middle Grade Readers on up
One Book on Learning a Whole New Language
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by Ann Goldstein
Lahiri shares about her decision to learn Italian, and then her decision to read and write only in Italian, even though she has won awards for her writing in her most comfortable language, English. She talks about learning a new language, and living overseas to immerse herself in it. She explores the differences between writing in a language that is new versus writing in one that is familiar and fluent. She ponders her relationship to Italian versus her birth language of Bengali and the language she grew up with at school, English. And she also shares some of her Italian short stories. The book is published with Italian and English texts side by side.
As an expat who works with students at an international school, most of whom are reading and writing in a language they've adopted and may not speak at home, I found Lahiri's writing fascinating and very relevant. She is able to put into words emotions, frustrations, and motivations for language learning that many will readily identify with, especially among international students. As the child of immigrants, she also gives voice to third culture kid issues (though she does not use that label) and how that influences how she feels about the languages she knows. All that to say, I totally get what she's saying here. And I know so many others who also get it. I may not have a drive to learn another language the way she does, but I definitely understand why she is doing it. I think many secondary or university ELL students would benefit from reflecting on some of her thoughts and knowing they aren't alone, and teachers of such students would benefit from understanding the joys and struggles with a new language. I have already pushed this into the hands of several of our Secondary English teachers.
- Target Readers: Students Learning/Writing/Reading in a Foreign Language, Language Teachers (English or other languages), Memoir Fans, Language Lovers, Third Culture Kids, Curious Readers, Fans of Works in Translation, Quick Read Fans, Young Adult Readers on up (also approachable to upper Middle Grade).
One Book on Creating a Whole New Language
A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Dimitra Fimi & Andrew Higgins
This book starts off with an over 60 page introduction about the setting both immediate and broader in which "A Secret Vice" was developed. Following the lightly edited actual speech, is another short treatise Tolkien wrote about the relationship of aesthetic appeal and invented language development. Finally, a Coda is included on the influence of Tolkien’s invented languages on people and fictional languages of today.
The interest level of this book varies broadly. At times it is exceedingly interesting to hear about Tolkien’s creative process in developing languages and the broader context that influenced him. At other times, talk of intensely technical language development grammar details is threateningly soporific. The Coda is the most readable part of the whole book, and probably of most interest to light Tolkien fans. Those more dedicated and the linguistically curious are the most likely to make it through the rest of the book. But no judging those who pick and choose what to read of this.
- Target Readers: Die-hard Tolkien Fans, Those Who Teach on Tolkien, Linguist Nerds, Would-be Fictional World Creators, Young Adult Readers on up
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