Achimpa: The Mysterious Word

by Catarina Sobral

One day, a researcher comes across a new word: ACHIMPA. Nobody knows its meaning or the word class it belongs to. People start using “achimpa” as a verb, noun, preposition and interjection. Everyone says “achimpa” as they feel like it until one day the researcher makes another new discovery... An achimping book for very achimp readers!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Portugal, Language, Humor, International

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Born in Portugal en 1985, Catarina Sobral is a published author and illustrator. After studying Graphic Design, she graduated in Illustration in 2012. Her illustrations are a regular presence in editorial illustration, album covers and posters, and she has thirteen books published in fifteen different languages. Her work has been exhibited both in solo and group shows in many places around the world and recognized by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Portuguese National Illustration Award, the Portuguese Authors’ Society, the White Ravens catalogue and the 3x3 magazine.

Reviews

[Ignacio Muñiz]

El esfuerzo de todo modelo gramatical consiste en describir una lengua de manera sencilla pero exhaustiva. En todos los casos llega un momento en el que hay más dudas que certezas: el empuje que anima la explicación del todo se debilita al asomarse a algunas partes. A todo Saussure le llega su achimpa.

[Iana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assim como em Greve, Catarina explora o mundo das palavras. Uma história perspicaz e com ilustrações deslumbrantes!

[Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primer dia en la vida d'adult en què he agraït saber què són els subs, verb, adj, adv... Genialgenialgenial

[Gime Rozzatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

El descubrimiento de una nueva palabra, nunca antes vista, nunca antes escuchada, despierta el interés y el ingenio de los habitantes de esta maravillosa historia.

La búsqueda de su significado y a qué clase de palabra pertenece abre las puertas imaginación de todos ellos.

Más allá de la diversión, del ingenio y demás, este libro nos muestra algo que muchas veces se nos escapa a diario: el poder de nuestro idioma. Un idioma tan rico, tan maravilloso que día a día nos regala la posibilidad de la creación de nuevas palabras, de la reutilización de otras, de rescatar del olvido aquellas que se encuentran en el baúl de los recuerdos, entre otras.

[carpe librorum :)]

Então bora lá achimpalhar isto, porque a língua é mesmo assim, uma coisa viva que se vai alterando e acrescentando, haja imaginação e vontade! Achimpa uê, achimpa uá... ehehehe.

Achimpa: substantivo, verbo, advérbio, adjetivo e o que mais apetecer, é isso mesmo, um convite à criatividade linguística!

Booktrailer: https://youtu.be/NY1SNKEDjeE

[Kuba Krasny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Aciumpa" to świetne narzędzie do nauki części mowy i zabawy z dzieciakiem.

[Freddie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous book celebrating language and etymology in a fun, kid-friendly way. There may even be a few lessons for adults in this book!

[Céline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parfait pour travailler les classes de mots.

[Pi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Aciumpa" - a cóż to takiego? Słowo - jasna sprawa. Co oznacza? Hmmm. Kiedy się go używa? Hmmmm. Kto je wymyślił? Hmmmm. I co zrobić z tym "hmmmm"? Właśnie! Do tego potrzebujemy książki i to nie byle jakiej książki - TEJ KSIĄŻKI!
Urocza, z poczuciem humoru opowieść o zabawie słowem. Porusza wyobraźnię i to nie tylko dziecka. od teraz będę "aciumpować"! Takie jest moje postanowienie, a reszta nie się zastanawia co też mam na myśli.
Uważam, że Catarina Sobral stworzyła naprawdę ciekawą historię, która rozwija kreatywność i pokazuje, że słowa mogą być cudowną grą. To wartościowa książeczka, z oryginalnymi ilustracjami i błyskotliwym pomysłem na fabułę. Od początku śledzimy ten jeden wyraz, tę bombę, która wybuchła i każdy chce poznać jej znaczenie. Wy też chcecie? No to sięgajcie po "Aciumpę" i bawcie się razem ze swoją pociechą.
Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry niezmiennie mnie zachwyca jedynymi w swoim rodzaju publikacjami. Z tej serii, czyli z serii POLECONE Z ZAGRANICY, czytałam również "Dwa dla mnie, jeden dla Ciebie" i również byłam zauroczona. Dla młodszych dzieci to frajda, a wielką zaletą tych pozycji jest ich walor edukacyjny i morał - zawsze aktualny.
"Aciumpa" przyciąga wzrok kolorami, charakterystyczną kreską i aciumpą oczywiście. To jak? Poaciumpujecie? Bo ja się wkręciłam i teraz zamiast "pomidor" będę mówić "aciumpa".

* Zachęcam Was do przyłączenia się do akcji #backlistaprzebojów w ramach której dzielimy się informacjami o starszych tytułach - tym samym wspieramy wydawnictwa w tym trudnym dla nich czasie.

słowa pełne wdzięku są - są też słowa dziwne, nasze, swoje, moje, twoje
8/10
seria POLECONE Z ZAGRANICY
Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry

[Michael Doane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashimpa: The Mysterious Word is a joyful, inventive exploration of how language shapes imagination, creativity, and community. Catarina Sobral takes a single made up word and builds an entire world around it, showing young readers and adults that words do not need fixed meanings to be powerful. Through humor, curiosity, and playful absurdity, the story invites readers to experience language as something living, flexible, and endlessly generative.

What makes Ashimpa so special is how it quietly teaches linguistic thinking without ever feeling like a lesson. As the mysterious word spreads, morphs, and takes on new forms, readers witness how meaning is created through use, emotion, and shared understanding. Sobral’s whimsical storytelling celebrates curiosity, creativity, and the joy of linguistic experimentation, making Ashimpa both a delightful picture book and a thoughtful meditation on how we communicate and imagine together.

[Andrea W · Rating 5 out of 5]

When nonsense is the word of the day, Ashimpa fits in perfectly. A community is abuzz and astounded and agitated by the introduction of a mysterious new word that no one quite knows how to use. Different parts of speech are all artfully introduced as researchers, grammarians, and even parliamentarians weigh in on the true definition of the word. The delightful storyline is set against a brilliant backdrop of vibrant, textured illustrations all pleasantly askew, akimbo, awry, a bit catawampus, and quite hilarious. The perfect read to slip into the bedtime stack to end the day with really big grins.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slyly humorous take on researchers and the meaning and use of certain words. In this case, the word "ashimpa" causes all sorts of problems as humans argue about its part of speech--whether it's a noun, a verb, a conjunction or even an interjection. When someone identifies it as related to a "perlimpent," everyone goes right to the reliable source--Mrs. Zulmira, who happily explains how it is used even though she clearly has no idea. After all, both words are made up. The zany artwork in this picture book originally published in Portuguese fits the equally zany story, which is rooted in some truth, of course.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashimpa: The Mysterious Word (2012, but now in English 2025) is a book for word-lovers, young and old. You see the great news that a rare or never seen before fish or animal or plant has been discovered? So cool, right? Well, word lovers, ashimpa is a never before discovered word, so everyone has to use it. But how, since we don't know what it means or how it may be used?!

So people begin using it as a noun, verb, adjective, and so on, so yes, this is a book about word usuage, language development, creativity. Whimsical, fun, with colored pencil drawings, oversized. I kind of ashimpa-ed it.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quirky picture book is all about a word that doesn’t exist: ashimpa. Is it a noun or a verb? Maybe it’s an adjective, no, it’s an adverb? No, it’s a … This silly story does have laugh-out-loud moments, especially for older readers. 

The artwork is full of primary colors and is quirky like the story. The images have a retro 1960s style, and no doubt, will attract children’s attention. This picture book is translated from Portuguese by Juiana Barbassa. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Portuguese import, a researcher comes across a "new word" never before heard of. He asks all sorts of experts what the word means and what is its part of speech, and from each of these asks, the researcher gets a different answer, all of them, it seems, simply made up so as not to sound uninformed (the librarian, the researcher, the grammarian). Because it's a nonsense word.

Unfortunately, living in an era where science is doubted and "making up an answer so as not to sound stupid" is not a message we should be sharing with children.

[madziar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pewnego dnia, w bardzo starym słowniku, pewien badacz odkrył zapomniane słowo: aciumpa, które wchodzi do języka potocznego i sprawia niemało problemów związanych z językowym rozbiorem zdania. Ludzie używają go w rozmaity sposób: "-Mamo! Spaliłam ciasto w piekarniku! - To je aciumpnij! (...) - Niech to aciumpa!" (...) Tę sprawę musimy załatwić jak najaciumpniej!"
Książeczka należy do serii "Polecone z zagranicy" wydawnictwa Dwie Siostry. "Aciumpa" jest propozycją argentyńską.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do with a new word? Try using it in different ways, as different parts of speech. Talk to others, get a conversation started. Consult with experts, like a researcher, a grammarian, maybe a librarian. Experiment with it, play with it. Finally, it may be necessary to give up.
Lots of word play make this a fun read for elementary-aged children.

[bruno · Rating 3 out of 5]

El vam llegir en conjunt a classe de castellà. Em va il·lusionar veure un conte tan atximpa que ensenya als infants la volatilitat del contingut semàntic de les paraules. Tant de bo que l'editin en català pròximament!

[Jessie]

A funny exploration of trends and evolution of language.

[Prin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun way to teach kids about parts of speech. Love the artworks too 🩵

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would make an interesting pairing with FRINDLE.

[Maximiliano Murúa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy lindo abordaje para presentar la lengua y sus variantes.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to introduce parts of speech.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children’s books I’ve read this year. Funny, lighthearted, with a keen observation of how the world really works. I enjoyed the typesetting and illustrations, it has a homemade, 90s feel.
My copy was translated into English.