​The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus
Jen Bryant
Illustrations by Melissa Sweet
 
Along with artist Sweet’s delicate watercolors and astounding collages, Bryant introduces readers to the life of Peter Mark Roget who gave us the thesaurus. From boyhood, shy but determined Peter observes everything, becoming obsessed with making lists of related words. He’s interested in plants and animals, classifying them like his hero, Linnaeus, but expanding his lists at every opportunity. He travels in Europe, becomes a doctor, and later a professor, but his crowning achievement is his Thesaurus (1852). People love it and make it a bestseller; vocabularies flourish, for writers and the public. Sweet’s collages teem and tumble with words and images intersecting in delightful and unexpected ways. Colors, thoughts, planets, ships, darkness and light--Roget’s listed anything that could help people experience the power of words. So, writers of all ages, when you use a modern thesaurus--in a book or online--be sure to thank Roget for helping you find “just the right word!”
2014, Ages 8 up

Check it out from your library using the library catalog. Donate to an improved Sebastopol Regional Library here.

Recommended by: Barbara Talcroft
Barbara Talcroft reviews children’s books professionally for childrenslit.com and for Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.  She has a Master’s degree in International Children’s Literature.  She also has many years’ experience as a teacher.  Barbara is one of the founders of LANTERN and its past chairperson.

​School’s First Day of School
Adam Rex
Illustrations by Christian Robinson
 
It’s August--schools will be opening soon. Nervous? Watch “Frederick Douglass Elementary” being constructed and finished just in time. A man called Janitor gets it ready for its first day: placing the furniture, washing windows, buffing floors till they shine. But this is a story with a twist--the school’s worried about being invaded by kids. “You’ll like the children,” Janitor tells him. The school’s not so sure. Will the day be a success? Kids of all kinds come flooding in to meet teachers and make new friends. Follow Robinson’s patterned, crayon-bright illustrations to see lessons, games, lunchroom spills (and a few glitches like a surprise fire alarm). Children run everywhere, trying the school’s lockers, drinking fountains, and jungle gym. As the sun goes down, climb to the roof where the school admits he’s had an exciting day. Janitor tells him he’s lucky to be a school--and the school thinks Janitor’s probably right!
2016, Ages 4 to 7

Check it out from your library using the library catalog. Donate to an improved Sebastopol Regional Library here.

Recommended by: Barbara Talcroft
Barbara Talcroft reviews children’s books professionally for childrenslit.com and for Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.  She has a Master’s degree in International Children’s Literature.  She also has many years’ experience as a teacher.  Barbara is one of the founders of LANTERN and its past chairperson.