
The Weighty Word Book
University of New Mexico Press
Will be published approx. on 15. April 2009
Book
Hardback
96 pages
978-0-8263-4555-4 (ISBN)
Description
As seen on TikTok: the viral children's book sensation beloved by kids of all ages. Learn and remember the definitions of words like felicity, truculent, and vacillate with the help of funny stories and beautiful illustrations.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, one big word, correctly used, is worth numerous little words. The big words in this book—one for each letter of the alphabet—have been selected not only for their frequency in the written language, but also for their sound. In every instance, the word has more than one syllable and the sound of the word lends itself to a pun.
The stories in the book are, as you will see, suggested by the pun. Although the stories are fanciful, they lead to the correct meaning of the words. By recalling the story and the concluding pun, children ought to remember what each word means. The stories and the puns, therefore, serve as memory hooks and encourage children to increase their vocabulary by forming their own mnemonics for any new words they encounter.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, one big word, correctly used, is worth numerous little words. The big words in this book—one for each letter of the alphabet—have been selected not only for their frequency in the written language, but also for their sound. In every instance, the word has more than one syllable and the sound of the word lends itself to a pun.
The stories in the book are, as you will see, suggested by the pun. Although the stories are fanciful, they lead to the correct meaning of the words. By recalling the story and the concluding pun, children ought to remember what each word means. The stories and the puns, therefore, serve as memory hooks and encourage children to increase their vocabulary by forming their own mnemonics for any new words they encounter.
Reviews / Votes
[The Weighty Word Book] will appeal to kids who want to sound as smart as they are. It offers a clever, funny way to introduce new words into the vocabulary.... There's one word for every letter of the alphabet - wait until you see what they do with dogmatic, juxtapose and zealot. - The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) ""Each of these twenty-six short stories takes an elaborate, circuitous path that leads to a 'weighty' one-word punch line.... It's a creative and humorous approach to vocabulary building, and a natural lead in to having students create their own tall tales with multisyllabic conclusions."" - Library School JournalMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Albuquerque, NM
United States
Target group
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
58 colour illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 234 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
635 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8263-4555-4 (9780826345554)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Paul M. Levitt | Douglas A. Burger | Elissa S. Guralnick
The Weighty Word Book
E-Book
04/2009
Unm Press
€14.83
Available for download
Persons
Paul M. Levitt is professor of English at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In addition to The Weighty Word Book, he has cowritten other children's books, including How Raven Found the Daylight and Other American Indian Stories and The Stolen Appaloosa and Other Indian Stories with Elissa S. Guralnick, former professor of English, University of Colorado. Douglas A. Burger is an associate professor of English, University of Colorado, Boulder. Janet Stevens has written, adapted, or illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, including And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon (Child Magazine Best Children's Book List, 2001), Tops & Bottoms (Disney NAPPA Book from LA Parent), and The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Parents Choice Award).