My First Dictionary

A beginner's dictionary gives simple definitions of more than one thousand commonly used words and helps young readers develop vocabulary, spelling, and alphabetizing skills. BOMC Main.

PreSchool-Grade 2-An enticing picture dictionary that defines and illustrates 1,000 words commonly used by young children. Most of the entries are arranged in three columns with a color-coded indicator running across the top of each page. However, several pages have entries that cover two columns, which may confuse readers just trying out the concept of alphabetical order. Also, an additional 150 words are printed in boldfaced type and explained in context. A variety of word games that can be played with this book are appended. While the full-color photographs and drawings are up to the publisher's usual standard in quality, a few are perhaps confusing: "alphabet" shows part of our ABC's as well as part of the Russian alphabet. "A skirt is a garment that hangs down from the waist." "Bank" has two entries, a riverbank and one that stores money; these entries are adjacent on one page. "Bat" for baseball and "bat" that flies happen to fall on sequential pages, making the double meaning less obvious to young browsers. The book's British origin shows up occasionally. However, the attractions are many, and libraries will welcome this addition to their nonfiction shelves.
Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Sharp, brightly hued photos that effectively leap off the page combine with detailed drawings to make this large-format, paper-over-board volume a visual treat for youngsters. Preschoolers can keep busy identifying the two dozen or so objects, concepts and actions illustrated on each spread. Older readers can tackle the concise definitions accompanying each bold-faced word and picture. Root emphasizes familiar and more exotic animals, as well as activities, playthings and locations (supermarket, school, park) that are pivotal to a child's world. She does an admirable job using words and pictures to present tough-to-describe adjectives (double, expensive). The author also includes entries and photos representing numerous cultures, and writes her definitions from a child's perspective without being at all condescending ("A man is a grown-up boy"). A welcome addition to this well-balanced reference is a concluding section devoted to "dictionary games" that challenge memory, spelling and deduction skills. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This dictionary was developed in Great Britain but has been adapted for an American audience. Containing 1,000 words, the author states that it has been "tested in schools and adapted to suit the needs of young children." Each word is defined in appropriate terms, and each is illustrated by a color photo or artwork. These high-quality illustrations are an outstanding feature. An additional 150 words appear in bold type within definitions (i.e., geese, goslings, and ganders in the entry goose). This serves as an introduction to the concept of derivations. The print is large and clear in this large-format book.

At the beginning of each letter, both the capital and lower-case form are featured in a box. The complete alphabet in capitals appears on each left-hand page, and the lower-case alphabet on each right-hand page with the letter featured highlighted in a bright color.

The dictionary is designed to be used by parents and children together. Hints on language skills are given for parents, and there are nine word games at the end of the book emphasizing dictionary skills through play.

This new picture dictionary stands head and shoulders above earlier titles such as Angela Wilkes' English Picture Dictionary (Passport Books, 1986), which contains 200 more entries but is much smaller in size, illustrations, and print. Stephen Krenksy's My First Dictionary (Houghton, 1980) has 1,700 words with 600 color drawings but has a textbook aura and is intended for older primary-age children.

This beginning dictionary is highly recommended for public and school library preschool and primary collections. Its format and outstanding illustrations will make it appealing to young children and a valuable learning tool for the pre- and beginning reader.