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The Dictionary of Difficult Words: With more than 400 perplexing words to test your wits!
What is a bumbershoot? Or a moonbow? And what does it mean when someone absquatulates...? Find out all this and more in the Dictionary of Difficult Words. Test your knowledge with more than 400 words to amaze, confuse, and inspire budding wordsmiths (and adults). All of the words featured in this book are difficult to spell, hard to say, and their meanings are obscure to most children (and most adults)! Written with simple, easy-to-understand definitions by lexicographer Jane Solomon, this dictionary celebrates the beauty of the English language for family trivia time spent around the printed page.
112 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2019
28 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Jane Solomon
1 book9 followersJane Solomon is a lexicographer and emoji expert based in Oakland, California. She spends her days working on various projects related to dictionaries and emoji. She's currently a senior emoji lexicographer at Emojipedia.
Jane was at Dictionary.com from 2013–2019, and she's also worked for Macmillan, Oxford, Cambridge, HarperCollins, Scholastic, Thinkmap, and K Dictionaries. She's on the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the group that decides what new emoji will pop up on our devices.
Jane was at Dictionary.com from 2013–2019, and she's also worked for Macmillan, Oxford, Cambridge, HarperCollins, Scholastic, Thinkmap, and K Dictionaries. She's on the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the group that decides what new emoji will pop up on our devices.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 6, 2021
Although this is a children's book, it's a fun and educational read for all ages; perfect for logophiles, trivia afficionados, and anyone hoping to become a verbalist extraordinaire!
May 5, 2019
I have recently learnt a new word (reading a wonderful YA book about a boy who liked taking photos of butterflies and a girl who liked astronomy)- a lepidopterist is a butterfly scientist. I'm sure not many people know what it means, and even fewer would use it, but it's okay, we have our secret club :-)
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is for incurably curious. Come and join our secret lexicophile club. Some of these words are not that rare ('penultimate' and 'zilch' to give a few examples), they are just difficult to spell or pronounce, and others are hard to explain and tricky to use correctly. Luckily, this dictionary has easy-to-understand definitions and fun illustrations to help children discover and remember these quirky word gems.
This book would make a great addition to a school library or a family bookshelf.
Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto Publishing Group) for the DRC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is for incurably curious. Come and join our secret lexicophile club. Some of these words are not that rare ('penultimate' and 'zilch' to give a few examples), they are just difficult to spell or pronounce, and others are hard to explain and tricky to use correctly. Luckily, this dictionary has easy-to-understand definitions and fun illustrations to help children discover and remember these quirky word gems.
This book would make a great addition to a school library or a family bookshelf.
Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto Publishing Group) for the DRC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 19, 2019
4★
“SESQUIPEDALIAN
If someone is sesquipedalian, they know a lot of big words and they love using them.”
This is fun and useful and a good conversation or game starter. You will no doubt find a word you didn’t know, but I will say that a few I didn’t know weren’t in Lexico, the Oxford Dictionary online, so I don’t feel so bad! I found them elsewhere as obsolete.
Lots of simple words make the list. Here’s what a whole double page looks like. This one is about how words work.
The first page explains some parts of speech.
The next one explains how to figure out meanings.
Mostly they are good simple definitions and/or explanations of the word along with illustrations for many. I disagree with a few definitions, but really, who am I to complain?
And I found a few terrific ones I can’t wait to use!
KAKISTOCRACY – a government ruled by the worst people.” It kind of rhymes with aristocracy.
How about that for a great word, eh? I expect to see it in political headlines any day now.
One of my favourite punctuation marks makes the list.
Interrobang ‽. It’s a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point that you use when you combine excitement with a question, like “Did I really win the lottery?!” I usually write it like that, one after the other, but there is html code for it. If you ever need it here, without spaces, it’s & # 8 2 5 3
I was also unaware there is such a thing as the study of animals that people think might not be real (unicorns, mermaids, Nessie). That’s cryptozoology. They’ve been a part of so many stories forever that it seems nobody can say definitively that they aren’t or weren’t ever real. I’d just recommend you don’t try to hit anyone up for a grant to study them. But who knows‽
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the digital preview copy from which I’ve selected a few of the many illustrations.
April 30, 2019
I like this a lot! Each letter of the alphabet has four pages over which 15 or so more difficult words are defined and illustrated. For each letter there is also one special word that gets a full-page illustration and a bit more explanation.
The illustrations here won't appeal to everyone, but there is a plethora of information within the pages that will keep even the most precocious polymath busy for quite some time.
4 strong stars for this suprisingly interesting dictionary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
The illustrations here won't appeal to everyone, but there is a plethora of information within the pages that will keep even the most precocious polymath busy for quite some time.
4 strong stars for this suprisingly interesting dictionary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
April 28, 2019
The Dictionary of Difficult Words
by Jane Solomon, Louise Lockhart (Illustrator)
This is a fun children's book that I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. It has a wonderful selection of words, what they mean, and how to say them. Some words are quite the mouthful! It is sure to make for some conversations and laughter. I think this will be a fun book for kids that like something different. This book makes learning fun.
by Jane Solomon, Louise Lockhart (Illustrator)
This is a fun children's book that I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. It has a wonderful selection of words, what they mean, and how to say them. Some words are quite the mouthful! It is sure to make for some conversations and laughter. I think this will be a fun book for kids that like something different. This book makes learning fun.
May 2, 2019
What a beauty. Although by all intents and purposes this seems like a children's book this is a perfect addition to the library or bookshelf of anyone interested in the English language and all of the weird, wonderful and often underused words that make it so fascinating. Each word is clearly defined in accessible, easily understood terms and the correct pronunciation is also given; that is of course very helpful. The bright, bold colours surrounding the words and the accompanying illustrations make this a must-have for schools and local libraries. Most regular people don't read dictionaries front to back, but I must admit this is so engaging that I did exactly that. That said, it also lends itself well to those wishing to dip in and out at their leisure.
There are four pages dedicated to each letter of the alphabet and with some of them being silly sounding they will keep a child's attention. It's a fun way to build their vocabulary. Specifically designed for children who are intrigued by words and those who wish to perhaps get more into reading, this is a superb book. The nifty introduction has some wise words regarding the correct way to use a dictionary and also how to establish the meaning of a word through its composition. Looking at the last letters of a word can often reveal their meaning - e.g. -phile, -ology, -graph, -ism etc. This is the most fun, educational and aesthetically pleasing dictionary you're likely to find. Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.
There are four pages dedicated to each letter of the alphabet and with some of them being silly sounding they will keep a child's attention. It's a fun way to build their vocabulary. Specifically designed for children who are intrigued by words and those who wish to perhaps get more into reading, this is a superb book. The nifty introduction has some wise words regarding the correct way to use a dictionary and also how to establish the meaning of a word through its composition. Looking at the last letters of a word can often reveal their meaning - e.g. -phile, -ology, -graph, -ism etc. This is the most fun, educational and aesthetically pleasing dictionary you're likely to find. Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.
April 9, 2019
The title says it all. It’s illustrated in a good way and most of the words are «difficult»/rare but usable enough to be interesting to learn. Some are just weird word that nobody will ever use anyway but might make some kids laugh a bit. A good, easy and fun way to help kids develop their vocabulary and their passion/love (or at least less having less fear/hate) about words. Interesting concept and well executed!
June 6, 2019
Love this!
April 17, 2019
The most unique and fun dictionary ever. Conventional dictionaries are referencing tools. Despite the fact some people do enjoy "reading" dictionaries, but most of us only point our ways to them when we need to look up words we don't know. This particular dictionary, however, is more than "a tool" but a fun read for readers of all ages. Majority of the words in this collection are not commonly used yet they are some of the most practical vocabularies everyone should know. We normally describe people who love cats as a cat lovers but how often we call them "ailurophiles?" How many times we have seen people name the "coming-of-age" novel a "bildungsroman?' And I can only imagine how cute my 5yo would be when asking me for his "bumbershoot" rather than using the normally used word "umbrella."
With the exception of the abstract words, vocabularies are accompanied by fun illustrations which is the publisher's signature niche. Definitions and explanations are written in the most direct and the simplest way. The author also provides pronunciations which is helpful.
Useful, aesthetic, educational and fun, "The Dictionary of Difficult Words" is DEFINITELY a book everyone should own. Already placed my pre-order online today. I highly recommend!
With the exception of the abstract words, vocabularies are accompanied by fun illustrations which is the publisher's signature niche. Definitions and explanations are written in the most direct and the simplest way. The author also provides pronunciations which is helpful.
Useful, aesthetic, educational and fun, "The Dictionary of Difficult Words" is DEFINITELY a book everyone should own. Already placed my pre-order online today. I highly recommend!
May 4, 2019
Jane Solomon has delighted me with this fantastic and beautifully illustrated children’s dictionary.
“The Dictionary of Difficult Words” is brimming with fun, useful, obsolescent, and weird words. Some of my favourites are:
Blatherskite – a person who talks a lot, but says things that are meaningless or foolish.
Clowder – a group of cats.
Sesquipidalian – someone who knows lots of big words and enjoys using them.
I like learning new words, and it’s even better if the word is more obscure. That is why “The Dictionary of Difficult Words” caught my attention, as I wanted to see the additions I could find to broaden my vocabulary.
I loved this book and I learned so much from it. It was well written and an awesome book on which to build a child's vocabulary whilst having a laugh with words at the same time! The illustrations were very quaint and this would be a great book for a parent and child to enjoy together.
I rated this book with five stars but as I try to use emojis other than stars, let's give it a clowder.
😺🙀😼😻😾
I highly recommend this wonderful book!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
“The Dictionary of Difficult Words” is brimming with fun, useful, obsolescent, and weird words. Some of my favourites are:
Blatherskite – a person who talks a lot, but says things that are meaningless or foolish.
Clowder – a group of cats.
Sesquipidalian – someone who knows lots of big words and enjoys using them.
I like learning new words, and it’s even better if the word is more obscure. That is why “The Dictionary of Difficult Words” caught my attention, as I wanted to see the additions I could find to broaden my vocabulary.
I loved this book and I learned so much from it. It was well written and an awesome book on which to build a child's vocabulary whilst having a laugh with words at the same time! The illustrations were very quaint and this would be a great book for a parent and child to enjoy together.
I rated this book with five stars but as I try to use emojis other than stars, let's give it a clowder.
😺🙀😼😻😾
I highly recommend this wonderful book!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 30, 2019
A book to prevent circumlocution and obfuscation, and make one a bit more grandiloquent and sesquipedalian instead (if not fully extemporaneous). Yes, from those down to 'droll' and simple place-fillers like 'gale', this book is a guide to some of the more extreme corners of our word use, but still suited to the primary school audience. Yes, six-syllable words can be seen to be throwing kids into the deep end, but I think that's a good thing, and the subjects of the words here are all suitably age-appropriate, and easily conveyed. It's all harmless fun, is easy to browse – and with my more Scrabble-leaning vocab, still taught me a couple of things. A couple of entries seemed a little too obscure, or easy, or neologisms (a 'dabster', anyone?!) but I'd rate this highly for the school library.
April 13, 2019
What an amazing book! It brings to light words that might be new but even better ones we’re familiar with but had no idea what they meant or how to pronounce. I see this in every household as parents would enjoy the variety of unique words and would help develop their vocabulary. This would be great for a librarian to use in group sessions again to help bring a greater understanding and appreciation of the words in our world to students.
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2020
Updating reviews as part of my plan to catch up on and clean up reviews.
*******************
I have always loved reading and browsing dictionaries and encyclopedias so when I saw this book on NetGalley, requesting it was a no-brainer.
This particular dictionary is aimed at children, teens and up. As a well-read adult, I found many of the words not actually difficult. But, happily for me, there were many words new to me and some of them were a challenge. For some children, many of these words would be difficult to know the meaning, or to pronounce, or to spell. Solomon provides easy to read pronunciations for each word and simple, clear definitions. Lockhart provides illustrations for many of the words and they are whimsical yet explanatory. They add both to the overall look of the book and to the definitions.
"The Dictionary of Difficult Words" is fun, entertaining, and educational. It's a good conversation starter and would be good for all sorts of word games. It's definitely a keeper.
*******************
I have always loved reading and browsing dictionaries and encyclopedias so when I saw this book on NetGalley, requesting it was a no-brainer.
This particular dictionary is aimed at children, teens and up. As a well-read adult, I found many of the words not actually difficult. But, happily for me, there were many words new to me and some of them were a challenge. For some children, many of these words would be difficult to know the meaning, or to pronounce, or to spell. Solomon provides easy to read pronunciations for each word and simple, clear definitions. Lockhart provides illustrations for many of the words and they are whimsical yet explanatory. They add both to the overall look of the book and to the definitions.
"The Dictionary of Difficult Words" is fun, entertaining, and educational. It's a good conversation starter and would be good for all sorts of word games. It's definitely a keeper.
March 16, 2020
This is exactly what I would expect from a Dictionary of Difficult Words picture book. Full of fun new words like “flapdoodle” & “triskaidekaphobia.” Each page is colorful and exciting, & every term is beautifully illustrated.
April 22, 2019
What a neat book! It takes big words and defines them but doesn’t have pages upon pages of them to overwhelm. Some words I did not know my many I did. In a day where literacy is on the decline (as far as using and comprehending large words) and language being shrunken to emoticons and text message shortenings, this is a great addition to one’s home library! It would be a great extra book for summer learning or homeschooling!
May 1, 2019
What a fun book! It’s filled with tons of interesting words you may or may not have heard of, so if words are your thing, you’re going to love it! The illustrations are charming with a delightful attention to detail. Can’t wait to get into my “snuggery” and read all about “clowders” and “turophiles”!
June 18, 2019
A little jewel. Not just for kids! A collection of great illustration and some truly interesting words. For word lovers of every age.
May 17, 2019
Richie’s Picks: THE DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS by Jane Solomon and Louise Lockhart, ill., Frances Lincoln, April 2019, 112p., ISBN: 978-1-78603-811-1
“The wild winds blow
Upon your frozen cheeks
The way you flip your hip
It always makes me weak
‘Cause you’re my babe
You’re my love
Girl, I’m just a jeepster for your love”
-- T. Rex, “Jeepster” (1971)
According to Wikipedia, the Jeepster “is an automobile originally produced by Willys-Overland Motors from 1948 to 1950. It was developed in hopes of filling a gap in the company’s product line, crossing over from their ‘utilitarian’ proto SUVs and trucks to the passenger automobile market.”
The word “Jeepster” was created by merging the terms “jeep” and “roadster.” Thanks to THE DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS, I now know that “jeepster” is a portmanteau: “A portmanteau is when two or more words squeeze into one new word.”
“Portmanteau” is but one of the more than 400 difficult words included in this very fun, large-trim, illustrated dictionary. There are plenty of words here that I know, but also quite a few that I’ve never before laid eyes on.
“Borborygmus is the rumbling sound that comes from someone’s stomach.”
“Catoptromancy is when people use mirrors to uncover hidden knowledge. The queen in Snow White is practicing catoptromancy when she looks into her mirror and asks Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?”
“Metagrobolize...If you are metagrobolized by something, you are puzzled or confused by it. People use this word when they want to be funny.”
“Petrichor...Petrichor is the earthy smell that comes from rain falling on soil, especially after it hasn’t rained in a while.”
“Ultracrepidarian...An ultracrepidarian is someone who has big opinions about things they know nothing about.”
From the over four hundred word definitions, there are twenty-six highlighted words, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each of the twenty-six is given a full-page, illustrated sidebar containing an extended explanation. For instance, the letter P is represented by “Portmanteau:”
“Brunch is a portmanteau that combines the words breakfast and lunch, and spork combines the words spoon and fork. Some dog breed names are portmanteaus. A puggle is part pug and part beagle. A labradoodle is part Labrador retriever and part poodle.”
I’m sure that every teacher and librarian knows kids who will absolutely flip over this fun and engaging book. I’m presently agonizing over whether to hold onto my copy or mail it off to a fifth-grade bibliophile with whom I discuss the latest releases. Frankly, it’s a tough call.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“The wild winds blow
Upon your frozen cheeks
The way you flip your hip
It always makes me weak
‘Cause you’re my babe
You’re my love
Girl, I’m just a jeepster for your love”
-- T. Rex, “Jeepster” (1971)
According to Wikipedia, the Jeepster “is an automobile originally produced by Willys-Overland Motors from 1948 to 1950. It was developed in hopes of filling a gap in the company’s product line, crossing over from their ‘utilitarian’ proto SUVs and trucks to the passenger automobile market.”
The word “Jeepster” was created by merging the terms “jeep” and “roadster.” Thanks to THE DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS, I now know that “jeepster” is a portmanteau: “A portmanteau is when two or more words squeeze into one new word.”
“Portmanteau” is but one of the more than 400 difficult words included in this very fun, large-trim, illustrated dictionary. There are plenty of words here that I know, but also quite a few that I’ve never before laid eyes on.
“Borborygmus is the rumbling sound that comes from someone’s stomach.”
“Catoptromancy is when people use mirrors to uncover hidden knowledge. The queen in Snow White is practicing catoptromancy when she looks into her mirror and asks Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?”
“Metagrobolize...If you are metagrobolized by something, you are puzzled or confused by it. People use this word when they want to be funny.”
“Petrichor...Petrichor is the earthy smell that comes from rain falling on soil, especially after it hasn’t rained in a while.”
“Ultracrepidarian...An ultracrepidarian is someone who has big opinions about things they know nothing about.”
From the over four hundred word definitions, there are twenty-six highlighted words, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each of the twenty-six is given a full-page, illustrated sidebar containing an extended explanation. For instance, the letter P is represented by “Portmanteau:”
“Brunch is a portmanteau that combines the words breakfast and lunch, and spork combines the words spoon and fork. Some dog breed names are portmanteaus. A puggle is part pug and part beagle. A labradoodle is part Labrador retriever and part poodle.”
I’m sure that every teacher and librarian knows kids who will absolutely flip over this fun and engaging book. I’m presently agonizing over whether to hold onto my copy or mail it off to a fifth-grade bibliophile with whom I discuss the latest releases. Frankly, it’s a tough call.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
July 6, 2019
Hellooooooo Gorgeous!
I am so glad I purchased ‘The Dictionary of Difficult Words’ by Jane Solomon - even after receiving a free digital copy from NetGalley. This thing is large (as dictionaries should be) and so colorful! It will call out to children from the shelves and no one will need to convince them to open it.
I know a lot of words - seems to be what happens when you’re an avid reader – and there was *at least* one word on every page that I did NOT know! But that’s what makes it fun, right! My boys and I laughed and laughed as we tried to pronounce words that no one in our house knew. (...never hurts to start ‘em young when building a strong vocabulary.)
I also really appreciated that Solomon did such an effective job describing *how* to use a dictionary. Let’s be honest, folks... Most kids in this {digital} day and age basically just ask Alexa what a word means. Heck, all I have to do is touch a word on my Kindle or right-click on my laptop if I don’t know what something means. But she so beautifully explains that there is no wrong way to read this book, what the parts of speech mean, and how prefixes and suffixes can help figure out a word’s meaning. Fantastic idea for those new to these types of concepts...
But don’t feel like this book is too serious and scholarly! Louise Lockhart, illustrator & living alliteration, has created a colorful, silly, and oh so appealing book for the younger set. From animals in arid climates to a redonk zedonk, Lockhart brings the craziest, most unintelligible words to life and helps the reader understand words through her visual clues and illustrations.
High praises for this beauty - Five Stars!
A big Thank You to NetGalley and Francis Lincoln/Quarto Publishing for this digital copy to read & review!
I am so glad I purchased ‘The Dictionary of Difficult Words’ by Jane Solomon - even after receiving a free digital copy from NetGalley. This thing is large (as dictionaries should be) and so colorful! It will call out to children from the shelves and no one will need to convince them to open it.
I know a lot of words - seems to be what happens when you’re an avid reader – and there was *at least* one word on every page that I did NOT know! But that’s what makes it fun, right! My boys and I laughed and laughed as we tried to pronounce words that no one in our house knew. (...never hurts to start ‘em young when building a strong vocabulary.)
I also really appreciated that Solomon did such an effective job describing *how* to use a dictionary. Let’s be honest, folks... Most kids in this {digital} day and age basically just ask Alexa what a word means. Heck, all I have to do is touch a word on my Kindle or right-click on my laptop if I don’t know what something means. But she so beautifully explains that there is no wrong way to read this book, what the parts of speech mean, and how prefixes and suffixes can help figure out a word’s meaning. Fantastic idea for those new to these types of concepts...
But don’t feel like this book is too serious and scholarly! Louise Lockhart, illustrator & living alliteration, has created a colorful, silly, and oh so appealing book for the younger set. From animals in arid climates to a redonk zedonk, Lockhart brings the craziest, most unintelligible words to life and helps the reader understand words through her visual clues and illustrations.
High praises for this beauty - Five Stars!
A big Thank You to NetGalley and Francis Lincoln/Quarto Publishing for this digital copy to read & review!
April 30, 2019
The Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon
This is a book I would LOVE to buy for my granddaughters! I can just see them walking into class and saying that they were feeling ramfeezled after the long trip back to Alabama from Bali or perhaps ask their parents why their teacher was flummoxed at work. There are so MANY wonderful words in this book that I can see a family learning one new word a day or even a week then using that word in the right way at least once during the day. I have to admit there were a few new words to me or perhaps ones that I just haven’t seen or used often enough to stick with me BUT what a smorgasbord of words there are in this book to tantalize a wordsmith!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ~ This is my honest review.
5 Stars
This is a book I would LOVE to buy for my granddaughters! I can just see them walking into class and saying that they were feeling ramfeezled after the long trip back to Alabama from Bali or perhaps ask their parents why their teacher was flummoxed at work. There are so MANY wonderful words in this book that I can see a family learning one new word a day or even a week then using that word in the right way at least once during the day. I have to admit there were a few new words to me or perhaps ones that I just haven’t seen or used often enough to stick with me BUT what a smorgasbord of words there are in this book to tantalize a wordsmith!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ~ This is my honest review.
5 Stars
August 30, 2023
This dictionary of difficult words is a tome filled with perplexing words. It was too large to carry in my knapsack. The pronunciation guide helped me enunciate the gargantuan words.
July 11, 2019
Dictionaries get a fun and whimsical makeover in Jane Solomon’s Dictionary of Difficult Words. Solomon offers simple and interesting definitions for each entry, which helps readers understand even the most difficult of words. The accompanying illustrations are also helpful in clarifying unfamiliar words. Readers of all ages will enjoy sifting through this dictionary and impressing friends and family with their expanded vocabulary.
Reviewer #9
Reviewer #9
June 13, 2019
The Dictionary of Difficult Words: With More Than 400 Perplexing Words to Test your Wits! was written by Jane Solomon and illustrated by Louise Lockhart. What is a bumbershoot? Or a moonbow? And what does it mean when someone absquatulates? Find out all this and more in the Dictionary of Difficult Words. Test your knowledge with more than 400 words to amaze, confuse, and inspire budding wordsmiths (and adults). All of the words featured in this book are difficult to spell, hard to say, and their meanings are obscure to most children (and most adults)! Written with simple, easy-to-understand definitions by lexicographer Jane Solomon, this dictionary celebrates the beauty of the English language for family trivia time spent around the printed page.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is a fun, educational, and useful book for all ages. I love that the book starts off explaining the various ways readers can explore and enjoy the book. In the beginning there are also great explanations about kinds of words and how to decode intimidating words and how to pronounce them. These are things that will always be helpful, even if I know I mentally mispronounce things all the time- especially if I have only read them and never heard them spoken. I love the words that were chosen for this book. Some are adjectives and adverbs that are used sparingly, but are just great words. Some are just fun to say, like bumbershoot (which I proudly already knew the definition for). I learned a few new words, and am trying to figure out how to use bildungsroman instead of coming of age tale in a book review without sounding pretentious. The artwork is fun and adds extra layers of understanding, fun, and style to the book.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is a great book to have in home, school, and public libraries. It can help teach the use and functionality of dictionaries, and get readers to broaden their personal vocabulary in fun ways. This book is a win all around, and I think I need to add it to my personal collection.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is a fun, educational, and useful book for all ages. I love that the book starts off explaining the various ways readers can explore and enjoy the book. In the beginning there are also great explanations about kinds of words and how to decode intimidating words and how to pronounce them. These are things that will always be helpful, even if I know I mentally mispronounce things all the time- especially if I have only read them and never heard them spoken. I love the words that were chosen for this book. Some are adjectives and adverbs that are used sparingly, but are just great words. Some are just fun to say, like bumbershoot (which I proudly already knew the definition for). I learned a few new words, and am trying to figure out how to use bildungsroman instead of coming of age tale in a book review without sounding pretentious. The artwork is fun and adds extra layers of understanding, fun, and style to the book.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is a great book to have in home, school, and public libraries. It can help teach the use and functionality of dictionaries, and get readers to broaden their personal vocabulary in fun ways. This book is a win all around, and I think I need to add it to my personal collection.
April 30, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is an illustrated dictionary of useful, fun, obsolete/obsolescent, weird, wonderful, and difficult words. Due out 2nd May 2019 on Quarto's Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. Author Jane Soloman is a professional lexicographer and iconographer. Artist Louise Lockheart's quirky illustrations give an enthusiastic feeling to the listings (see cover art).
This would have appealed to me immensely as a kid. I have always loved language and the incredible richness of English especially. This would make a superlative library book or gift for the sesquipedalian person in your life, adults and youngsters alike.
Five stars. Really fun and worthwhile.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Dictionary of Difficult Words is an illustrated dictionary of useful, fun, obsolete/obsolescent, weird, wonderful, and difficult words. Due out 2nd May 2019 on Quarto's Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. Author Jane Soloman is a professional lexicographer and iconographer. Artist Louise Lockheart's quirky illustrations give an enthusiastic feeling to the listings (see cover art).
This would have appealed to me immensely as a kid. I have always loved language and the incredible richness of English especially. This would make a superlative library book or gift for the sesquipedalian person in your life, adults and youngsters alike.
Five stars. Really fun and worthwhile.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
May 20, 2019
Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Dictionary of Difficult Words. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
Although the formatting of the book gives readers the impression that this is a children's book, adults will also benefit from this dictionary of SAT type words. Parents will enjoy learning along with their children, especially as the author has included the parts of speech and the phonetic spelling. Besides including small drawings for many of the words, the author has chosen to highlight some with full page whimsical representations.
The author has included some helpful information at the beginning of the book, giving tips to the successful reading of this book, explanations of parts of speech, and hints about determining the meaning of certain words. The presentation of the words is brilliantly designed to not cause anxiety over learning something that may be considered as difficult. I would definitely recommend The Dictionary of Difficult Words to parents, educators, and children alike.
Although the formatting of the book gives readers the impression that this is a children's book, adults will also benefit from this dictionary of SAT type words. Parents will enjoy learning along with their children, especially as the author has included the parts of speech and the phonetic spelling. Besides including small drawings for many of the words, the author has chosen to highlight some with full page whimsical representations.
The author has included some helpful information at the beginning of the book, giving tips to the successful reading of this book, explanations of parts of speech, and hints about determining the meaning of certain words. The presentation of the words is brilliantly designed to not cause anxiety over learning something that may be considered as difficult. I would definitely recommend The Dictionary of Difficult Words to parents, educators, and children alike.
May 15, 2019
This book is the #1 new release in children's dictionaries on Amazon. The cover itself is a sight to behold and very classy. It is a large hardback with an embossed title and beautiful texture. The illustrations are kid-friendly and fun. Each page displays multiple drawings or collages that adds much interest to the reader. Lists of words from A to Z are brilliantly presented by lexicographer Jane Solomon.
Kids will love and appreciate the science, nature, feelings, emotions and language words that adorn the book. More than 400 difficult words to pronounce and spell are documented with easy to understand meanings that will intrigue both the young and the old alike. I know I bumped into many that I was not familiar with.
This delightful book should not only be in every home but in every classroom and library. It would make a perfect year-end gift to give to a teacher. It truly is a celebration of words and our amazing language. Who knew learning big words could be so much fun? I highly, highly recommend this book.
Kids will love and appreciate the science, nature, feelings, emotions and language words that adorn the book. More than 400 difficult words to pronounce and spell are documented with easy to understand meanings that will intrigue both the young and the old alike. I know I bumped into many that I was not familiar with.
This delightful book should not only be in every home but in every classroom and library. It would make a perfect year-end gift to give to a teacher. It truly is a celebration of words and our amazing language. Who knew learning big words could be so much fun? I highly, highly recommend this book.
February 3, 2025
I love words. It was fun exploring this book and although I consider I have a fairly good vocabulary I learnt plenty of new words and that makes this a great book already!
The meanings of the words are pitched at children, to make them accessible and easy to understand how they might be used (rather than the fullest and most accurate definition) which I think works for such a book and the pictures are delightful. Of course the book has to be selective about what words to choose - I thought it was inspiring and I want to start using some more of these words in everyday life and in books. I have a use for cryptozoologist immediately!
The book also reminded of some of those difficult words I'd learned for fun when much younger, like "ailurophile" and delighted in. I loved that other people didn't know what it meant and I liked to use it and challenge others as to the meaning. There was both broadening of vocabulary and nostalgia here.
The art is lots of fun.
The meanings of the words are pitched at children, to make them accessible and easy to understand how they might be used (rather than the fullest and most accurate definition) which I think works for such a book and the pictures are delightful. Of course the book has to be selective about what words to choose - I thought it was inspiring and I want to start using some more of these words in everyday life and in books. I have a use for cryptozoologist immediately!
The book also reminded of some of those difficult words I'd learned for fun when much younger, like "ailurophile" and delighted in. I loved that other people didn't know what it meant and I liked to use it and challenge others as to the meaning. There was both broadening of vocabulary and nostalgia here.
The art is lots of fun.
April 15, 2019
This is a cute dictionary of less than common (or easy) words for those young readers who like to learn and like a challenge. As someone who always loved to learn new words and to be able to say and understand the hard ones, I would have been all over this!
It’s an easy way to challenge a young ones mind and vocabulary, while also making it fun. There are tips inside as to how one can read it, which would encourage kids to read/play with their friends or family by quizzing or guessing etc. Even as an adult, some of these words are challenging and new to me.
The illustrations also make it more fun as opposed to just words on a page, with a few extra tidbits of info and coloured pictures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s an easy way to challenge a young ones mind and vocabulary, while also making it fun. There are tips inside as to how one can read it, which would encourage kids to read/play with their friends or family by quizzing or guessing etc. Even as an adult, some of these words are challenging and new to me.
The illustrations also make it more fun as opposed to just words on a page, with a few extra tidbits of info and coloured pictures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2019
Every classroom and home should have a copy of this beautiful book to encourage playfulness and joy in language!
Each word is accompanied by cute, colourful explanations which are child-friendly, often giving examples to assist in usage.
I learned a few new words, all of which I am planning to use in the near future:
Kakistocracy - a government ruled by the worst people...
Ultracrepidarian - someone who has very big opinions about things about which they know nothing
Sesquipidalian - someone who knows lots of big words and enjoys using them
Zeugma - a play on words where one word is used in two different contexts in the same sentence e.g. She devoured her book and sandwich.
I absolutely loved this quirky collection of words and will be getting my hands on a few copies for our school library!
(Thank you to Quarto for my e-ARC through Netgalley)
Each word is accompanied by cute, colourful explanations which are child-friendly, often giving examples to assist in usage.
I learned a few new words, all of which I am planning to use in the near future:
Kakistocracy - a government ruled by the worst people...
Ultracrepidarian - someone who has very big opinions about things about which they know nothing
Sesquipidalian - someone who knows lots of big words and enjoys using them
Zeugma - a play on words where one word is used in two different contexts in the same sentence e.g. She devoured her book and sandwich.
I absolutely loved this quirky collection of words and will be getting my hands on a few copies for our school library!
(Thank you to Quarto for my e-ARC through Netgalley)
June 11, 2019
I received this e-book ARC of The Dictionary of Difficult Words: With more than 400 perplexing words to test your wits! through Net Galley from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books in exchange for a truthful review.
This book is FRABJOUS! I think the ARC I received included only about half of the pages, but I would definitely seek out this book for purchase. The layout was fun and engaging with pronunciations and interesting graphics accompanying the difficult words.
I also enjoyed the end notes which explained the use/history of THEY as a singular pronoun and also the discussion on how ALL words are real.
This book is FRABJOUS! I think the ARC I received included only about half of the pages, but I would definitely seek out this book for purchase. The layout was fun and engaging with pronunciations and interesting graphics accompanying the difficult words.
I also enjoyed the end notes which explained the use/history of THEY as a singular pronoun and also the discussion on how ALL words are real.
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