(2) 4-6 Ernest is a quiet, shy boy fascinated by the Oxford English Dictionary. Along with his three siblings and his father, he is disturbed and mystified by the sudden disappearance of his mother, Beatrice. In his quest to find her, Ernest has two allies: outgoing friend Quinn and a sentient typewriter named Olivetti. Olivetti can see, hear, feel, and -- though otherwise inanimate -- communicate by typing (as long as someone provides paper). The typewriter also retains a memory of everything that was ever typed on him. His first-person narration alternates with Ernest's as the mystery plot deepens. Clues and shenanigans, quirks and magic, create a smokescreen for both Ernest and the reader, obscuring the real-world human story of a parent with cancer, which is gradually and poignantly revealed. In a surreal, rollicking conclusion, Ernest and his family, including the returned Beatrice, join forces with Olivetti to liberate and repair abandoned typewriters and create a revolution of joyful human-typewriter interaction. The point here could involve an upending of our dystopian AI worries, or could be as simple as a celebration of writing as a therapeutic endeavor in times of trouble. Either way, Ernest is a memorable character in an equally memorable family.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Claire Powell. When the large extended Swift family gathers at the ancestral home for their regular reunion, they hunt, as they always do, for the long-hidden family treasure. This time, however, there is a murderer in their midst and the bodies start accumulating. Who is killing off Swifts and why? Playing with the tropes of the classic mid-century isolated country house detective novel, Lincoln whips up a witty confection of highly colorful characters (Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, twins Flora and Fauna); dynamic wordplay; and a plot dense with action, suspense, double-dealing, innovative murder weapons, and a well-orchestrated eleventh-hour reveal. (Not to give anything away, but beware a punster.) Our window on this world is the observant, energetic Shenanigan Swift, a charmingly flawed middle-grader eager to solve the crimes while making sense of family, relationships, and adult life. Fans of Marthe Jocelyn's Aggie Morton mysteries and Polly Horvath's gothic fiction will feel right at home in this inventive, exuberant world. A bonus in this American edition of a British import is a lively introductory essay on dictionaries and the evolution of English that could well inspire a budding lexicographer.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) 4-6 Sixth grader Zia Angelis is living with depression--the Shadoom, to Zia, who is fond of inventing portmanteau words. She doesn't know how to explain what she's feeling to her supportive mother, to her one-time friends, or to Alice Phan, the cool new girl at school. When her "grumpy Greek grandmother" moves in, Zia discovers a dictionary in her yiayia's things that turns out to have magical powers: it's erasable, and whenever Zia removes a word from the dictionary, that concept disappears from the world. Getting rid of peach seems like no big deal, but when Zia tries to combat the Shadoom by erasing fear and pain, the results are far messier. Discovering that her yiayia has always known the dictionary's secret--and that all generations of her family have faced their own problems with depression--allows Zia to fix what the dictionary broke and deal with her mental health on her own terms. Barton fits a lot into the narrative--depression, dementia, economic inequality, Greek and Vietnamese heritages, the small indignities of school--without overwhelming the story. The characters are fully formed, and Zia's eventual solution to the problem of the dictionary is unexpected but just right. The frequent invented words range from charming to cloying, depending on the reader's sensibilities, but are unquestionably creative.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Before he became a lexicographer, Webster wanted individual letters to have specific correlations to unique sounds. Along with Franklin, he proposed a new alphabet with additional letters. Here readers see the development--and ultimate failure--of the plan that is the foundation for compiling his American Dictionary of the English Language. Colorful digital illustrations show a lightheartedness that belies Webster's sacrifices but complements the text's tone. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mircea Catusanu. In this lighthearted introduction to the lexicographer, readers see Webster first as a willful child and later a determined adult who helped promote and record American English as a unique language. The standout here is the collage art, which incorporates historical artifacts and includes humorous edits of the text (presumably from Webster himself). Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. This breezy picture-book biography introduces readers to Webster. A smart and serious student, he could also be a bit highfalutin ("Noah called goofing around 'playing roguish tricks.' This is an example of Noah talking big"), which Fern emphasizes using a lighthearted repeated rhetorical pattern. Kulikov's energetic illustrations put Webster at the center of every spread by making him larger or brighter than his surroundings. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(2) YA Noah Webster (1758–1843) has a passion for words but cannot seem to find a vocation. He tries teaching, lawyering, lecturing, publishing, and writing. Late in life he finally settles down to complete his dictionary, drawing on his passion for language as well as his belief that a common American language will unite the country. Historical background gives context to this cradle-to-grave biography. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Library Resources series. Cheesy staged photographs of young, enthusiastic "researchers" welcome primary-grade readers on a quick tour of print and computer resources for report writing. Simple, easy-to-read texts, sidebars, and labeled photos provide brief introductions to encyclopedias, databases, and dictionaries, the information within, and how to access it. These overviews are clearly organized, and the presentations are inviting. Glos. Review covers these Library Resources titles: What Would You Do with a Database?, What Would You Do with a Dictionary?, and What Would You Do with an Encyclopedia?.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch. In this unique biography of the patriot and dictionary writer, Ferris seamlessly incorporates words with their definitions--"He wanted to write a DIC-TION-AR-Y (noun: a book listing words in ABC order, telling what they mean and how to spell them)"--creating opportunities for vocabulary development, but also showing what Webster's work was all about. Kirsch's humorous illustrations highlight important moments. Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Monica Vachula. As much a history of American language as it is a biography, this picture book shows how Noah Webster "believed that Americans could and should use their own language to break free totally from England." Though Webster is best known for his lexicography, the engaging text and detailed illustrations present a complete portrait of a driven patriot who helped form a nation. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) PS Curious George and his friends illustrate six hundred words in this picture dictionary for preschoolers. With no more than six words per page, there's plenty of room for the accompanying illustrative "definitions." The layout is inviting, and the two-page foreword will give adults useful information about helping young children expand their vocabulary.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS Illustrated by Nick Sharratt. This bilingual dictionary groups words in categories that will be familiar to children, such as "Let's play in the yard," "What do we like to wear?" and "Let's go to the toy store." A helpful introduction and a pronunciation guide will allow parents and teachers to make the most of this book. Sharratt's bright and colorful cartoon-style illustrations have definite kid appeal.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) PS Illustrated by Nick Sharratt. A large, colorful format with clear and lively pictures presents a category of words in French and English on each spread ("What's in the park?" shows swing, bench, dog, etc.), while questions in word balloons prompt adults to use the book interactively with children. Nearly two hundred words are presented pictorially while the last three pages provide a pronunciation guide and list each word with its meaning and transliteration.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson