Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day - Fun & Interesting Daily Vocab Book for Kids: 366 Elevating Utterances to Stretch Your Cranium and Tickle Your Humerus

by Merriam-Webster (Editor)

Become a word virtuoso in just one year with 366 crackerjack words aimed to impress. This charmingly illustrated book features boffo words selected by the masterminds at Merriam-Webster to highlight the best of the English language. Follow a menagerie of animals as they teach one new word for each day of the year, including a definition, pronunciation, a part of speech label, and an interesting trivia about the word. Each month concludes with an outlandish story that features all the new words learned. The book features 12 free audio downloads so kids can hear each month’s story read aloud by celebrity narrators including Rachel Bloom, David Harbour, and Soledad O’Brien. This delightfully challenging and surprising book will turn word aficionados into passionate logophiles!

Genres: Education, Writing, Nonfiction, Childrens

352 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2021

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: I’m buying a stack of these to give to all the young readers on my Christmas list! Fun & educational for all: adorable and funny animal art illustrates up-to-date explanations of word meanings featuring fun facts about Lady Gaga, Alexander Hamilton, and even South Philly. Kids old and new could pore over it for hours, or just take a page a day! It even has an audio portion: 12 read-aloud stories accessible via QR each featuring the month’s words. I bet it’ll become any kid’s favorite fat bedside reference book.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, cheerfully illustrated book for kids that are around 8-12. Some words will not be new for a lot of kids this age but others are great ones to add to their vocabularies (and a lot will be new even to grown ups!). Examples of words: mayhem, woebegone, docile, glitch, squeamish, avuncular and panache. Great fun and recommended.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you know someone who loves unusual words such as kerfuffle, bamboozle, or defenestrate? Then you should give them a copy of this book. Each day a different word is featured with the pronunciation, definiton, and an anecdote that uses the word in context. At the end of each month is a story that includes all the words from that month (shown in bold). There is even a QR code to access a read-aloud of the story. There are also a group of words around a theme in each month's list; it might be words related to disasters (mayhem, fiasco, pandemonium) or words to use when you can't remember the name of something (gizmo, thingamjig, doohickey). Amusing illustrations show animals acting out the definitions - a white horse paints black stripes on itself to "hoodwink" others into believing it is a zebra, or a hyena falls over laughing with a great "guffaw."

Perfect for logophiles who are always collecting new words, or to give to a teacher to use in their classroom to share unusual words with their students.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: 366 Elevating Utterances to Stretch Your Cranium and Tickle Your Humerus by Sue Macy was inspired by Merriam-Webster's popular Word of the Day digital feature. This book builds knowledge one day at a time with 366 masterful words. Each Word features clear and helpful illustrations for readers and are introduced with a pronunciation guide, definition and interesting trivia about the world. Each month contains an introduction, one word per day individually or in thematic groups plus an end-of-the-month story that includes all of the words. It includes 12 Free Downloadable audio stories. The audio will be available as a download through the QR codes printed in the book, and also as a separate audio collection.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day is a charmingly illustrated collection of words to learn and use. I like that it is not year dependent, so it can be shared or revisited. I liked the trivia and information that was with the words, and they way that themes and monthly wrap ups are used to bring everything together. I think this collection will appeal to upper elementary school students through adults, to word nerds and smart alecks alike. I could see this being a great addition to family or classroom traditions since it can easily be both fun and educational. This would be perfect as part of a holiday gift for the right person.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accompanied by simple but colorful illustrations that typify the meaning of the words, this book is a logophile's delight. As is the case with Merriam-Webster's online Word of the Day, it features a new or somewhat unusual word and its definition for each day, even for February 29 when it happens to come. Beginning appropriately with razzmatazz in January and ending with ebullient in December, vocabulary associated with celebrations, the book also sometimes groups related words into similar categories such as love language, disasters, or clothing or "wearable words." Obviously, this is a very cool and entertaining way to increase someone's word power and provide different ways of expressing something; for instance, why not choose cerulean instead of blue to describe the ocean or the sky? Ah, and at the end of each month, there is a story using all of the words introduced for that month. Readers can scan the QR code next to the text for free audio downloads of these read-alouds. Maybe it's already in the planning stages, but I hope that there will be more books such as this one forthcoming.

[Gail Sacharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read & is good for kids wanting to expand their vocabulary. There are 366 words--one for each day of the year including Leap Day--illustrated with colorful animal illustrations. There is a pronunciation key which is helpful as I learned how to say some words which I've been mispronouncing or wasn't sure about. The only flaw with this is I didn't like what I call the "lazy" pronunciation on many words--using "uh" in words like vamoose (vuh-moose) when I pronounce it "vam-oos". There were several words like this for a, e, & o to be pronounced as uh. There are so many words used today that get a lazy pronunciation on a regular basis in conversation which leads to misspelling them & I just felt a book by a dictionary staff should use the correct form & not the popular one, especially for kids who are still learning. Otherwise, the words chosen were a mixture of everyday, unusual, quirky, "old-fashioned" & the descriptions were interesting & educational. At the end of each month's collection, there was a story using all the words. I enjoyed the book.

[Vidya Tiru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to run out of words to describe a book that is all about words? I almost feel like it could be so. This book, while written for younger readers, is sure to delight anyone who peruses it, or deep-dives into it.

Whether you are a epistemophile, a philomath, a logophile, a wonk, or one of many other words that apply to someone who loves words, reading, or learning, this book is for you; and of course, for everyone, because learning new words is a joyous and wonderful thing after all!

Check out my post at https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/word... for the complete review.

Thanks to the e-RC from NetGalley.. these are my honest thoughts about this book

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our favorite homeschool books, and if you are a bibliophile or a logophile, (which I am assuming you are because you are reading my post) you'll adore this book! Every day before we start homeschooling, my mom and I read the word of the day, and at the end of the month, there is a story that includes all thirty or so words from that particular month! It's really cool to see all of the words come together in a few short paragraphs. I've always wondered whether they picked out the words before they made the story or afterward. This is 100% an awesome book, and if you homeschool it is a must-have! Thank you for reading! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recs!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great means of increasing vocabulary for middle and high schoolers, this calendar provides a pronunciation guide, simple definition, and example with fun facts and classics trivia. Amusing images make this a colorful addition to any teen's room. Those worried about the eco-friendliness of a daily calendar fear not! Several pages are themed with three definitions a piece on them. Monthly stories are also provided with QR links to have the story read aloud. Oddly enough, there is a February 29th page on a non-leap year. Buy the calendar to find out what word is revealed on that date.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Publisher Spotlight and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this amazing book. As an educator who works predominantly with English language learners and students with disabilities, I absolutely loved this word-a-day concept, the word selection for each day, the stories at the end of each month, and especially the option to scan a QR code to have the story read aloud (amazing for English language learners and those for whom reading is difficult). Can’t wait to use this great book with my students as a fun way to build their English vocabulary.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a second grade teacher, I devoted a part of each week to introducing fun and interesting words that were considered above their level. Although that was not a part of the curriculum (Who cares?), I got to witness the excitement of kids as they interacted with vocabulary that expanded their world. Although I did well with finding intriguing words (rambunctious, shipshape, trivial, etc.), I wish I had had this resource as well. Word of the Day is right up my alley, serving up 366 words that will delight kids and expand their ability to express themselves. Beautifully illustrated as well. It almost makes me wish I had young kids or was teaching again. Almost.

[Nita Ankrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It has a great variety of words, some of which are somewhat more common than others. Many of the words are just fun to say, and kids will like learning the words and using them. Each word includes a short little explanation or story to go along with it to help in remembering the word. This books makes expanding kids' vocabularies fun.

[Emily Purdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my kids every day & we all love it! We love the pictures, brief story examples, & especially the end of the month, where they have a 'Story of the Month", utilizing all the monthly words! We love learning new words & their meanings in such a fun way! I think this is our 2nd or 3rd time through it.

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! Perfect for first thing in the morning, at dinner, or right before bed. Help your kids learn a new word each day. Some are interesting (spelunking) and some are hilarious (tomfoolery and fussbudget) all are a great conversation starter. I love any books that can get your kids talking.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Queen]

made me smarter

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly fun! Perfect for the logophile (a person who loves words) of any age! And yes, I learned the word "logophile" from this book. The illustrations are absolutely adorable too!

[Angie Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's BOFFO! Everyone needs a copy.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! I love the opportunity to increase vocabulary in both myself and my students. Recommended.