{"id":19584,"date":"2021-07-30T16:47:27","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T20:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/?p=19584"},"modified":"2021-08-10T16:13:59","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T20:13:59","slug":"words-word-play-and-grammar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/","title":{"rendered":"Words, Word Play, and Grammar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For those who haven\u2019t been happy memorizing the definitions of <em>gerund<\/em> or <em>participle<\/em>, there are many other resources for approaching the weird and wonderful world of words and language. See below for everything from a murderous panda to the world\u2019s worst alphabet book, bug language, an unpronounceable poem, bad (even Deplorable) words, a delightfully difficult dictionary, and the best book ever on opposites.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0e308ecad68\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0e308ecad68\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/#GRAMMAR_GENERAL\" >GRAMMAR: GENERAL<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/#PUNCTUATION\" >PUNCTUATION<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/2\/#SPELLING\" >SPELLING<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/2\/#COOL_COLLECTIVE_NOUNS\" >COOL COLLECTIVE NOUNS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/2\/#SIMILES_AND_METAPHORS\" >SIMILES AND METAPHORS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/3\/#SYNONYMS_AND_ANTONYMS\" >SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/3\/#DICTIONARIES\" >DICTIONARIES<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/4\/#HOMOPHONES_and_HOMONYMS\" >HOMOPHONES and HOMONYMS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/4\/#WONDERFUL_WORDS_Nonfiction\" >WONDERFUL WORDS: Nonfiction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/4\/#WONDERFUL_WORDS_Fiction\" >WONDERFUL WORDS: Fiction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/5\/#WORD_PLAY\" >WORD PLAY<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/5\/#HISTORY_OF_ENGLISH\" >HISTORY OF ENGLISH<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/6\/#WORDS_WE_DONT_HAVE\" >WORDS WE DON&#8217;T HAVE<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/6\/#IDIOMS\" >IDIOMS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/6\/#BAD_WORDS\" >BAD WORDS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/words-word-play-and-grammar\/7\/#WORD_GAMES\" >WORD GAMES<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"GRAMMAR_GENERAL\"><\/span>GRAMMAR: GENERAL<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 3125px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 223px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 223px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/If-you-were-adjective-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/If-you-were-adjective-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/If-you-were-adjective.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 223px;\">\n<p>The Word Fun series (Picture Window Books) includes such titles as <em>If You Were an Adjective<\/em>, <em>If You Were a Noun<\/em>, <em>If You Were a Verb<\/em>, and <em>If You Were a Pronoun<\/em>. All are brightly illustrated picture books with word examples in colorful fonts. For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 384px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 384px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20372\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/merry-go-round-281x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/merry-go-round-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/merry-go-round.jpg 468w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 384px;\">\n<p>Ruth Heller\u2019s gorgeously illustrated \u201cWorld of Language\u201d picture-book series introduces kids to parts of speech through a clever (and memorable) rhyming text and gloriously colored pictures. Titles in the series (Puffin, 1998) include <em>Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns<\/em>; <em>Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs<\/em>; <em>Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives<\/em>; <em>Up, Up and Away: A Book About Adverbs<\/em>; <em>Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions<\/em>; <em>Mine, All Mine: A Book About Pronouns<\/em> (1999); and <em>Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal!: A Book About Interjections and Conjunctions<\/em> (2000). For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 459px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 459px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-mink-a-fink-235x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-mink-a-fink-235x300.jpg 235w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-mink-a-fink.jpg 494w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 459px;\">\n<p>Brian P. Cleary\u2019s \u201cWords Are Categorical\u201d series is a collection of light-hearted cartoon-illustrated picture books, each detailing a different part of speech. Many titles (Millbrook Press) including <em>A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink: What Is a Noun?<\/em>; <em>To Root, To Toot, To Parachute: What Is a Verb?<\/em>; <em>I and You and Don\u2019t Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun?<\/em>; <em>Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective?<\/em>; <em>Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is an Adverb?<\/em>; and <em>Under, Over, By the Clover: What Is a Preposition?<\/em> Try this, for example, from <em>Hairy, Scary<\/em>: Adjectives, Cleary explains, \u201cmodify nouns in ways that help tell us\/If someone\u2019s sincere, delighted, or jealous\/If jackets are herringbone, pin-striped, or plaid\/If babies are crabby, excited, or glad.\u201d For ages 7-11.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 437px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 437px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/deluxe-transtive-vampire-237x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/deluxe-transtive-vampire-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/deluxe-transtive-vampire.jpg 395w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 437px;\">\n<p>Karen Elizabeth Gordon\u2019s <em>The Deluxe Transitive Vampire<\/em> (Pantheon, 1993). Subtitled \u201cThe Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed,\u201d covers basic grammar with black-and-white Victorian woodcuts, a cast of characters that includes vampires, trolls, and gargoyles, and a lot of peculiar behavior. (\u201cThe werewolf or his wife wreaked havoc in the pantry.\u201d) For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar vein, also see Gordon\u2019s <em>The New Well-Tempered Sentence<\/em> (Mariner Books, 2003), which deals with all the ins and outs of punctuation. (\u201cOther fortresses under his jurisdiction have never sought clemency for March hares.\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elements-of-style-193x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elements-of-style-193x300.jpg 193w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elements-of-style.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, <em>The Elements of Style<\/em> (Pearson, 1999) is a classic for students of grammar. &nbsp;Just over 100 pages long, it\u2019s a concise collection of rules of usage along with a helpful list of commonly misused words in alphabetical order. For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dreyers-english-201x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dreyers-english-201x300.png 201w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dreyers-english.png 526w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Benjamin Dreyer \u2013 longtime copy chief at Random House &#8211; <em>Dreyer\u2019s English<\/em> (Random House, 2019) is both a grammar book and an absolutely delightful read, filled with examples, information, and a lot of superb (and opinionated) advice for writers. (Never use the word \u201cactually\u201d \u2013 \u201cbecause, seriously,\u201d writes Dreyer, \u201cit serves no purpose I can think of except to irritate.\u201d) Highly recommended for teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 359px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 359px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woe-is-I-189x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woe-is-I-189x300.jpg 189w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woe-is-I.jpg 315w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 359px;\">\n<p>Patricia O\u2019Connor\u2019s <em>Woe Is I<\/em> (Riverhead Books, 2019) points out that English is an ever-changing language. Witness, for example, the current use of a singular \u201cthey,\u201d \u201cthem,\u201d and \u201ctheir\u201d as a gender-neutral pronoun \u2013 and, says Connor, there\u2019s nothing wrong with \u201ctaller than me\u201d as a simple comparison. Chapters include \u201cWoe Is I: Therapy for Pronoun Anxiety\u201d (\u201cWhen a tiny word gives you a big headache, it\u2019s probably a pronoun\u201d), \u201cComma Sutra: The Joy of Punctuation,\u201d and \u201cThe Living Dead: Let Bygone Rules Be Gone.\u201d For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 359px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 359px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20411\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/sister-bernadette-244x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"244\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/sister-bernadette-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/sister-bernadette.jpg 406w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 359px;\">\n<p>Kitty Burns Florey\u2019s <em>Sister Bernadette\u2019s Barking Dog<\/em> (Mariner Books, 2007) is subtitled \u201cThe Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences\u201d \u2013 yes, a whole book on diagramming sentences, which Florey explains she learned in sixth grade from Sister Bernadette. It\u2019s a hoot to read (\u201cTrying to stuff the complexities of the English language into flat visual structures is a bit like trying to force a cat into the carrier for a trip to the vet\u201d) and makes diagramming sentences look like a new form of parlor game. Florey calls it a cross between math and art. For ages 12 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 270px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 270px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/grammar-girl-2018_0.png 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 270px;\">\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickanddirtytips.com\/grammar-girl\">Grammar Girl<\/a> for catchy and interesting podcast episodes and articles on the rules and quirks of grammar. Sample titles: \u201cStationery versus Stationary,\u201d \u201cThe History and Glory of the Spelling Bee,\u201d \u201cBring versus Take,\u201d and \u201cUp with Which I Will Not Put!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PUNCTUATION\"><\/span>PUNCTUATION<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2493px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 312px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 312px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20398\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-takes-vacation.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 312px;\">\n<p>In Robin Pulver\u2019s <em>Punctuation Takes a Vacation<\/em> (Holiday House, 2004), the punctuation marks all head for Take-A-Break Lake (on the hottest day of the year), leaving Mr. Wright\u2019s class in chaos. Postcards from the missing marks emphasize just how important they are. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<p>Also by Pulver, see <em>Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day<\/em> (Holiday House, 2007) and <em>Silent Letters Loud and Clear<\/em> (Holiday House, 2010).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20396\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-celebration-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-celebration-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-celebration-768x992.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-celebration.jpg 774w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Elsa Knight Bruno, <em>Punctuation Celebration<\/em> (Square Fish, 2012) is an illustrated collection of fourteen poems about punctuation marks. (\u201cThe period is just a dot\/Found sitting in its\/favorite spot.\/When a sentence ends,\/it comes and plops,\/And where it plops\/the sentence STOPS.\u201d) For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 234px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 234px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20397\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-station-300x247.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-station-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/punctuation-station.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 234px;\">\n<p>In Brian P. Cleary\u2019s <em>The Punctation Station<\/em> (Millbrook Press, 2028), a family of giraffes are on a train heading from Period Plaza to Punctuation Station, learning the proper uses of period, comma, apostrophe, question mark, hyphen, exclamation point, and quotation marks en route. All in catchy rhyme. For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 209px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 209px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exclamation-mark-300x193.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exclamation-mark-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exclamation-mark-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exclamation-mark.jpg 1009w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 209px;\">\n<p>The title character of Amy Krouse Rosenthal\u2019s <em>Exclamation Mark<\/em> (Scholastic, 2013) struggles to fit in \u2013 which seems hopeless. He even considers giving up and running away \u2013 until he meets an aggressive question mark and comes into his own. A delight for ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves-704x1024.jpg 704w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves-768x1117.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves-1056x1536.jpg 1056w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-and-leaves.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Lynn Truss\u2019s <em>Eats, Shoots &amp; Leaves<\/em> (Avery, 2006), subtitled \u201cThe Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation,\u201d is a catchy account of the uses and misuses of punctuation marks \u2013 with many examples of hideously punctuated signs (easily the basis for a game of \u201cSpot the Awful Grammar\u201d during trips by car). Just to emphasize the dangers of a misplaced comma, the cover has a picture of a potentially murderous panda. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 233px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 233px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-kids-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-kids-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eats-shoots-kids.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 233px;\">\n<p>For younger readers, see Truss\u2019s series of illustrated picture books, all demonstrating the potentially awful results of misused punctation. Titles include <em>Eats, Shoots &amp; Leaves<\/em> (G.P. Putnam\u2019s Sons, 2006), <em>More Eats, Shoots &amp; Leaves<\/em> (2019), <em>The Girl\u2019s Like Spaghetti<\/em> (2007), and <em>Twenty-Odd Ducks<\/em> (2008). For ages 6 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 287px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 287px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20409\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/semicolon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"270\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 287px;\">\n<p>Seriously \u2013 an entire book on the semicolon? Cecelia Watson\u2019s <em>Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark<\/em> (Ecco, 2019) is a chatty history of the much-debated semicolon. (My favorite punctuation mark.) For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 273px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 273px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/31JXX4DUjL-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/31JXX4DUjL-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/31JXX4DUjL-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/31JXX4DUjL.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 273px;\">\n<p>Interrobang? Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/people.howstuffworks.com\/6-punctuation-marks-that-dont-exist-but-totally-should.htm\">6 Punctuation Marks That Don\u2019t Exist But Totally Should<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 311px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%; height: 311px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Punctuation-Marks-List-261x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"261\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Punctuation-Marks-List-261x300.png 261w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Punctuation-Marks-List-892x1024.png 892w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Punctuation-Marks-List-768x882.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Punctuation-Marks-List.png 1021w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%; height: 311px;\">\n<p>From the <em>New York Times<\/em>, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/10\/02\/learning\/whats-your-favorite-punctuation-mark.html\">What\u2019s Your Favorite Punctuation Mark?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SPELLING<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 3139px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 271px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 271px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/spelling-quiz-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/spelling-quiz-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/spelling-quiz-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/spelling-quiz.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 271px;\">\n<p>Need practice? <a href=\"https:\/\/spellquiz.com\/words\">Spell Quiz<\/a> has spelling lists and spelling bee words for grades 1 through adult.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 233px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 233px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/p-is-for-pterodactyl-300x231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/p-is-for-pterodactyl-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/p-is-for-pterodactyl.jpg 496w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 233px;\">\n<p>By Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter, <em>P is for Pterodactyl<\/em> (Sourcebooks Explore, 2018) \u2013 subtitled \u201cThe Worst Alphabet Book Ever\u201d \u2013 is a hilarious alphabetical take on the awfulness of English spelling, in which not only is P for pterodactyl, but C is for czar, K is for knight, and T is for tsunami. For ages 7 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20357\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet-842x1024.jpg 842w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet-768x934.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet-1263x1536.jpg 1263w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inconvenient-alphabet.jpg 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Beth Anderson, <em>An Inconvenient Alphabet<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster\/Paula Wiseman Books, 2018) is the picture-book story of how Benjamin Franklin and Noah Webster tried to simplify the alphabet and make English easier to read and write. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 207px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 207px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/fish-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/fish-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/fish-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/fish.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 207px;\">\n<p>Ghoti is an alternative phonetic way to spell \u201cfish.\u201d Really. Read about it in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2010\/06\/27\/magazine\/27FOB-onlanguage-t.html\">this article<\/a> from the <em>New York Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 271px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 271px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/teddy-roosevelt.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 271px;\">\n<p>It could all be so much simpler. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/news\/theodore-roosevelt-spelling-controversy\">Teddy Roosevelt\u2019s Bold (But Doomed) Battle to Change American Spelling<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 271px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 271px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/chaos.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 271px;\">\n<p>Gerard Nolst Trenite\u2019s poem <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.palomar.edu\/pages\/eminamide\/files\/2013\/07\/The-Chaos-of-English-Pronunciation.pdf\">Chaos<\/a> is a famous example of the craziness of English spelling and pronunciation. (Supposedly if you can read it correctly, you\u2019ll be speaking English better than 90% of the world\u2019s native English speakers.) Warning: it\u2019s not easy,<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/akeelah-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/akeelah-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/akeelah.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0437800\/\">Akeelah and the Bee<\/a> (2006), an eleven-year-old from South Los Angeles \u2013 with plenty of troubles at school and at home \u2013 makes it to the National Spelling Bee. Rated PG.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20443\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5167GEMSEML-205x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5167GEMSEML-205x300.jpg 205w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5167GEMSEML.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0334405\/\">Spellbound<\/a> (2002) is an Academy Award nominee documentary about eight kids struggling to compete in the National Spelling Bee. Rated G.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 134px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>Try an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamestolearnenglish.com\/spelling-bee\/\">online spelling bee<\/a>! Look at the image and spell the word. Playable at two levels (easy and hard).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 271px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 271px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee_Logo.svg_.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 271px;\">\n<p>Are you ready to tackle the National Spelling Bee? See the <a href=\"http:\/\/spellingbee.com\/\">Scripps National Spelling Bee website<\/a>. Included are round by round lists of the words used in the most recent bee.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20358\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/infinity-year-of-avalon-james-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/infinity-year-of-avalon-james-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/infinity-year-of-avalon-james.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>In Dana Middleton\u2019s <em>The Infinity Year of Avalon James<\/em> (Feiwel &amp; Friends, 2016), Avalon and best friend Atticus are waiting for the magic powers Atticus\u2019s grandfather claims that they will develop in their \u201cinfinity year\u201d between the ages of ten and eleven. At the same time, Avalon struggles to cope with a father in prison and works to become a spelling champion. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 213px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 213px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20313\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic-1536x1186.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/acrostic.jpg 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 213px;\">\n<p>Poetry + spelling. An acrostic is a poem in which the first letter of each line, when read vertically, combine to spell a word. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wonderopolis.org\/index.php\/wonder\/what-is-an-acrostic-poem\">What Is an Acrostic Poem?<\/a> from Wonderopolis, or learn more about types of acrostic poems with some great examples <a href=\"https:\/\/literarydevices.net\/acrostic\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COOL COLLECTIVE NOUNS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1553px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 291px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 45.1724%; height: 291px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20323\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cache-of-jewels-283x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"283\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cache-of-jewels-283x300.jpg 283w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cache-of-jewels.jpg 594w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 283px) 100vw, 283px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.8276%; height: 291px;\">\n<p>Ruth Heller\u2019s <em>A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns<\/em> (Puffin, 1998) is a gorgeously illustrated rhyming picture book in which readers learn about \u201cbatch of bread,\u201d \u201cmuster of peacocks,\u201d \u201cparcel of penguins,\u201d \u201cfleet of ships,\u201d \u201ckindle of kittens,\u201d and more. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 45.1724%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/charm-of-goldfinches-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/charm-of-goldfinches-221x300.jpg 221w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/charm-of-goldfinches.jpg 465w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.8276%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Matt Sewell, <em>A Charm of Goldfinches and Other Wild Gatherings<\/em> (Ten Speed Press, 2017) is a beautifully illustrated collection of collective nouns from the animal kingdom, organized in three sections: Land, Air, and Water. Learn about a sleuth of bears, a dazzle of zebras, a pod of pelicans, and a shiver of sharks. All ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 311px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 45.1724%; height: 311px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/murmuration-of-starlings-264x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/murmuration-of-starlings-264x300.jpg 264w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/murmuration-of-starlings-902x1024.jpg 902w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/murmuration-of-starlings-768x872.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/murmuration-of-starlings.jpg 1127w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.8276%; height: 311px;\">\n<p>Steve Palin\u2019s <em>A Murmuration of Starlings<\/em> (Merlin Unwin Books, 2013) is an illustrated alphabetical list of collective animal nouns from Army of Frogs to Wisp of Snipe. All ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 45.1724%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exaltation-of-larks-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exaltation-of-larks-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/exaltation-of-larks.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.8276%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>James Lipton\u2019s <em>An Exaltation of Larks<\/em> (Penguin, 1993) is a classic for lovers of collective nouns or \u201cnouns of assemblage,\u201d with over 1000 collective words, ancient and modern. Fascinating for teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 45.1724%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/drudge-of-lexicographers-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/drudge-of-lexicographers-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/drudge-of-lexicographers.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.8276%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>From the drudge of lexicographers at Merriam-Webster, see these wonderful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/words-at-play\/a-drudge-of-lexicographers-presents-collective-nouns\/common-collectives\">collective nouns<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SIMILES AND METAPHORS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1902px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 184px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 184px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quick-as-a-cricket-271x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quick-as-a-cricket-271x300.jpg 271w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quick-as-a-cricket.jpg 570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 184px;\">\n<p>In Audrey Wood\u2019s <em>Quick as a Cricket<\/em> (Clarion, 2020), an imaginative little boy describes himself in rhyming similes. A fun interactive exercise \u2013 what are <em>you<\/em> loud as, quiet as, quick as, small as? For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 159px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 159px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20328\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-like-a-fox-300x268.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-like-a-fox-300x268.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-like-a-fox.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 159px;\">\n<p>Loreen Leedy\u2019s <em>Crazy Like a Fox<\/em> (Holiday House, 2009) is a story told entirely in similes \u2013 beginning with Rufus the fox who has been sleeping like a log. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 184px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 184px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20412\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skin-like-milk-229x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skin-like-milk-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skin-like-milk.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 184px;\">\n<p>What are similes and metaphors? Brian P. Cleary\u2019s <em>Skin Like Milk, Hair of Silk<\/em> is a rhyming illustrated collection. The featured similes and metaphors are printed in color so readers can\u2019t possibly miss them. For ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 312px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 312px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20376\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-dog-is-as-smelly-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-dog-is-as-smelly-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-dog-is-as-smelly.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 312px;\">\n<p>In Hanoch Piven\u2019s <em>My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks<\/em> (Dragonfly Books, 2012), each member of the family is described in terms of similes and illustrated with collage portraits, in which objects are used to show their various personality traits. Try making some of your own! For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>Also by Piven, see <em>My Best Friend Is Sharp As a Pencil<\/em> (2010), a collection of classroom collage portraits.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 109px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 109px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/picasso-collage.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"251\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 109px;\">\n<p>Just for fun, see this project for <a href=\"https:\/\/artfulparent.com\/pablo-picasso-collages-inspire-kids-to-explore-indentity-with-self-portraits\/\">Pablo-Picasso-style collage self-portraits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 84px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 84px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20404\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/recycled-collage.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/recycled-collage.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/recycled-collage-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 84px;\">\n<p>Or try making <a href=\"https:\/\/artfulparent.com\/self-portrait-collage\/\">recycled self-portrait collages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 84px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 84px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 84px;\">\n<p>From Creativity School, see <a href=\"https:\/\/creativityschool.com\/blog\/teach-kids-to-paint-using-wax-and-watercolors\/\">How to Make a Self-Portrait Collage for Kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 209px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 209px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/surfeit-of-similes-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/surfeit-of-similes-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/surfeit-of-similes.jpg 336w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 209px;\">\n<p>Norton Juster\u2019s <em>A Surfeit of Similes<\/em> (William Morrow, 1989) is a gem of a book, a charming collection of rhyming similes. (\u201cAs pure as an angel\/As clever as zippers\/As awkward as crutches\/As friendly as slippers\u201d) A lovely read for ages 7 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 134px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/youre-toast-300x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/youre-toast-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/youre-toast.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>Nancy Loewen\u2019s <em>You\u2019re Toast<\/em> (Picture Window Books, 2011) is a picture book of metaphors for ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 209px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 209px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20445\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/51T1K9OOLzL._SX258_BO1204203200_-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/51T1K9OOLzL._SX258_BO1204203200_-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/51T1K9OOLzL._SX258_BO1204203200_.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 209px;\">\n<p>Marvin Terban\u2019s <em>It Figures!<\/em> (Clarion, 1993) introduces common figures of speech \u2013 similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole, and personification \u2013 with helpful examples from classic literature and suggested writing exercises. For ages 9-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 234px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%; height: 234px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20373\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/metaphors-be-with-you-229x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/metaphors-be-with-you-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/metaphors-be-with-you.jpg 381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%; height: 234px;\">\n<p>Mandy Grothe\u2019s <em>Metaphors Be With You<\/em> (Harper, 2017) is an alphabetical collection of \u201chistory\u2019s greatest metaphorical quotations,\u201d selected from a wide range of sources including literature, philosophy, politics, and pop culture. (Helpful hint: an apt quotation is often a great help to a struggling writer.) For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2759px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 311px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 311px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20353\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/if-you-were-synonym-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/if-you-were-synonym-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/if-you-were-synonym.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 311px;\">\n<p>Michael Dahl\u2019s <em>If You Were a Synonym<\/em> (Picture Window Books, 2007) in the Word Fun series is a picture-book explanation of synonyms. &nbsp;(\u201cIf you were a synonym\u2026you could be COOL, CHILLY, FROSTY, ICY, WINTRY, or FREEZING. No matter how you say it, you would still be COLD.\u201d) For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<p>In the same series, see Nancy Loewen\u2019s <em>If You Were an Antonym<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pitch-and-throw-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pitch-and-throw-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pitch-and-throw-768x970.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pitch-and-throw.jpg 792w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Brian P. Cleary\u2019s <em>Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What Is a Synonym<\/em>? (Millbrook Press, 2007) is a lively rhyming explanation with many examples and colorful cartoon illustrations. For ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<p>Also by Cleary in the same format, see <em>Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-take-248x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-take-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-take.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Susan Hood\u2019s <em>Double Take!<\/em> (Candlewick, 2017) is a new twist on opposites, as a boy and a blue elephant discover that sometimes opposites like big and small or strong and weak are a matter of perspective. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/opposites-wilbur-208x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/opposites-wilbur-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/opposites-wilbur.jpg 329w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Richard Wilbur\u2019s <em>Opposites, More Opposites, and a Few Differences<\/em> (Harcourt, 2000) is an illustrated collection of brilliantly clever poems about opposites. (\u201cWhat\u2019s the opposite of riot?\/It\u2019s lots of people keeping quiet.\u201d) A gem for ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 273px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 273px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thesaurus-rex-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thesaurus-rex-296x300.jpg 296w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thesaurus-rex.jpg 493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 273px;\">\n<p>Laya Steinberg\u2019s <em>Thesaurus Rex<\/em> (Barefoot Books, 2005) is a rhyming exploration of synonyms, along with an adorable dinosaur in red trousers. For ages 4-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 273px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 273px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stegothesaurus-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stegothesaurus-296x300.jpg 296w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stegothesaurus.jpg 493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 273px;\">\n<p>In Bridget Heos\u2019s <em>Stegothesaurus<\/em> (Henry Holt, 2018), the stegothesaurus (blue and wearing a bow tie) is very different from his stegosaurus brothers \u2013 he talks in multiple synonyms. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20418\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-right-word-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-right-word-221x300.jpg 221w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-right-word.jpg 464w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Jen Bryant with wonderful illustrations by Melissa Sweet, <em>The Right Word<\/em> (Eerdmans Books, 2014) is a picture-book biography of Peter Mark Roget, who published his famous <em>Thesaurus<\/em> \u2013 a treasure trove of synonyms &#8211; in 1852. For ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<p>Perfect for January 18 which is both Roget\u2019s birthday and National Thesaurus Day.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/childrens-illustrated-thesaurus-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/childrens-illustrated-thesaurus-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/childrens-illustrated-thesaurus.jpg 496w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>The <em>Children\u2019s Illustrated Thesaurus <\/em>(DK, 2017) is an attractively designed, dictionary-style, 250+-page thesaurus for ages 9-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20387\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oxford-writers-thesaurus-213x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oxford-writers-thesaurus-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oxford-writers-thesaurus.jpg 354w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>There are dozens of available thesauruses \u2013 but my favorite is the <em>Oxford American Writer\u2019s Thesaurus<\/em> (Oxford University Press, 2012), an enormous 300,000-word collection of synonyms (and antonyms), helpfully arranged in alphabetical order and interspersed with mini-essays by the highly literate contributing editors.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DICTIONARIES<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2831px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 359px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 359px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper-794x1024.jpg 794w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper-768x990.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper-1191x1536.jpg 1191w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/great-dictionary-caper.jpg 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 359px;\">\n<p>In Judy Sierra\u2019s <em>The Great Dictionary Caper<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2018), the dictionary words leave their book and head for Lexi-Con in Hollywood \u2013 a wild event featuring a parade with an onomatopoeia marching band, a lot of excited action verbs, and the world\u2019s favorite 32-letter word. There are gatherings of rhyming words (and protests from non-rhyming words), homophones, anagrams, and a palindrome family reunion. Eventually Noah Webster manages to persuade the words to return to their proper places in the dictionary. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 211px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 211px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-webster-and-his-words-300x230.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-webster-and-his-words-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-webster-and-his-words.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 211px;\">\n<p>By Jeri Chase Ferris, <em>Noah Webster and His Words<\/em> (Clarion, 2015) is a delightful picture-book story of Noah Webster, author of <em>Webster\u2019s American Dictionary.<\/em> For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20382\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-websters-fighting-words-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-websters-fighting-words-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-websters-fighting-words-768x970.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/noah-websters-fighting-words.jpg 792w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Tracy Nelson Maurer\u2019s <em>Noah Webster\u2019s Fighting Words<\/em> (Millbrook Press, 2017) is a picture-book biography of the author of America\u2019s first dictionary (with comments in the margins by Webster himself). For ages 7-11.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dictionary-of-difficult-words-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dictionary-of-difficult-words-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dictionary-of-difficult-words.jpg 522w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By lexicographer Jane Solomon, the cleverly designed and illustrated <em>Dictionary of Difficult Words<\/em> (Frances Lincoln Children\u2019s Books, 2019) is a challenging collection of 400 not-just-ordinary words. Absquatulate? Funambulist? Zenography? (How about a vocabulary bee?) For ages 7-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 359px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 359px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20408\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/search-for-delicious-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/search-for-delicious-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/search-for-delicious.jpg 343w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 359px;\">\n<p>In Natalie Babbitt\u2019s <em>The Search for Delicious<\/em> (Square Fish, 2007), no one can agree on the proper definition for <em>delicious<\/em> for the realm\u2019s new dictionary \u2013 the Prime Minister claims that \u201cDelicious is fried fish;\u201d the General of the Armies says it\u2019s a mug of beer; the Queen, Christmas pudding; and the King, an apple &#8211; so twelve-year-old Gaylen is sent off to take a poll of the kingdom. A wonderful story involving a woldweller, a mermaid, a threatening war, and \u2013 ultimately \u2013 the perfect definition for delicious. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/meaning-of-everything-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/meaning-of-everything-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/meaning-of-everything-692x1024.jpg 692w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/meaning-of-everything-768x1136.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/meaning-of-everything.jpg 1014w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Simon Winchester\u2019s <em>The Meaning of Everything<\/em> (Oxford University Press, 2018) is the story of the making of the <em>Oxford English Dictionary<\/em>, a Herculean task, involving many colorful characters. (Learn about J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s struggle to define \u201cwalrus.\u201d) For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/professor-and-madman-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/professor-and-madman-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/professor-and-madman.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Simon Winchester\u2019s <em>The Professor and the Madman<\/em> (Harper Perennial, 2005) is the story of the making of the <em>Oxford English Dictionary<\/em>, which involved as astounding collaboration between British professor James Murray and Dr. William Minor, a Civil War veteran and inmate of Broadmoor, a prison for the criminally insane. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prof-and-madman-movie-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prof-and-madman-movie-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prof-and-madman-movie-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prof-and-madman-movie-768x1097.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prof-and-madman-movie.jpg 856w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt5932728\/\">movie version<\/a> of the book (2019) stars Mel Gibson as James Murray and Sean Penn as Dr. Minor. Ratings show that audiences liked it better than the critics did. For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20433\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-by-word-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-by-word-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-by-word.jpg 409w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Lexicographer Kory Stamper\u2019s <em>Word by Word<\/em> (Vintage, 2018) is a fascinating account of the process of dictionary writing \u2013 including the constant struggles over what to define and how to do it and the difficulties of coping with the ever-changing English language \u2013 along countless fun facts and anecdotes. \u00a0For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HOMOPHONES and HOMONYMS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1216px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 265px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.2759%; height: 265px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dear-deer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dear-deer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dear-deer-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dear-deer.jpg 631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.7241%; height: 265px;\">In Gene Barretta\u2019s <em>Dear Deer<\/em> (Square Fish, 2010), a picture book crammed with homophones, Aunt Ant has moved to the zoo and writes letters describing her experiences to Dear Deer. (\u201cWait until you HEAR what goes on over HERE.\u201d) All the homophones are emphasized in capital letters. For ages 4-7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.2759%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20351\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-much-can-a-bare-bear-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-much-can-a-bare-bear-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-much-can-a-bare-bear.jpg 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.7241%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Brian P. Cleary\u2019s <em>How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?<\/em> (Millbrook Press, 2007) is a zany rhyming look at homonyms (words with the same spelling but different meanings) and homophones (words with the same pronunciation, but different spelling and meanings) for ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<p>For more on homonyms and homophones by Cleary, see <em>A Bat Cannot Bat, a Stair Cannot Stare<\/em> (2016).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.2759%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eight-ate-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eight-ate-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/eight-ate.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.7241%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Marvin Terban\u2019s <em>Eight Ate<\/em> (HMH, 2007) is a \u201cfeast of homonym riddles.\u201d \u201cWhat is an animal with a rough-sounding voice that cowboys ride?\u201d \u201cHoarse horse.\u201d For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.2759%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20362\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/king-who-rained-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/king-who-rained-221x300.jpg 221w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/king-who-rained.jpg 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.7241%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Fred Gwynne\u2019s now-classic <em>The King Who Rained<\/em> (Aladdin, 1988) begins with a play on \u201creigned\u201d and \u201crained\u201d as the king, in robe and crown, floats like a cloud in the sky, raining on a little girl who holds a yellow umbrella. Other homonymous titles by Gwynne are <em>A<\/em> <em>Chocolate Moose for Dinner<\/em> (Prentice-Hall, 1987) and <em>A Little Pigeon Toad<\/em> (Aladdin, 1990).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WONDERFUL WORDS: Nonfiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-word-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-word-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-word.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>Rosalie Baker\u2019s <em>In a Word: 750 Words and Their Fascinating Stories and Origins<\/em> (Cricket Books, 2003) is organized into 16 chapters (sample titles are \u201cMath Magic and Science Synergy,\u201d \u201cGlorious Gizmos and Great Grub,\u201d \u201cAwesome Archaeology,\u201d and \u201cFantastic Foreigners\u201d) and is crammed with interesting tidbits. (The word \u201ccandidate,\u201d for example, comes from the Latin meaning \u201cclothed in white,\u201d since persons running for political office in Rome took great care to whiten their togas.) For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/totally-weird-words-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/totally-weird-words-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/totally-weird-words.jpg 324w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>Edited by Erin McKean, <em>Totally Weird and Wonderful Words<\/em> (Oxford University Press, 2006) is a cartoon-illustrated compendium of hundreds. (Spanghew: to cause a frog or toad to fly into the air.) A plus for all vocabularies.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20316\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/alphamaniacs-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/alphamaniacs-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/alphamaniacs.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>By Paul Fleischman, with wonderful illustrations by Melissa Sweet, <em>Alphamaniacs <\/em>(Candlewick, 2020) is a collection of 26 mini-biographies of linguists, etymologists, and wordsmiths who have approached language, letters, words, and books in unusual, bizarre, and thoroughly entertaining ways. Meet the inventor of Klingon and the writer whose novella uses no vowels but e. For ages 10-14.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20322\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cabinet-of-linguistic-curiosities-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cabinet-of-linguistic-curiosities-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cabinet-of-linguistic-curiosities-635x1024.jpg 635w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cabinet-of-linguistic-curiosities-768x1238.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cabinet-of-linguistic-curiosities.jpg 794w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>By Paul Anthony Jones, <em>The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities<\/em> (Elliot &amp; Thompson, 2019) has a strange and forgotten word for every day of the year, starting on January 1 with <em>qualtagh<\/em> \u2013 a word which means, appropriately enough, the first person you meet on New Year\u2019s Day. For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-lost-words-216x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"216\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-lost-words-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-lost-words.jpg 453w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>Robert Macfarlane\u2019s <em>The Lost Words<\/em> (Anansi International, 2018) had its beginnings when the author discovered that the new edition of the Oxford children\u2019s dictionary had dropped a long list of nature words, such as acorn, bluebell, fern, raven, and willow. This beautifully illustrated book is a \u201cspell book,\u201d designed to bring those words back. For all ages.<\/p>\n<p>From Brainpickings, see this wonderful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brainpickings.org\/2019\/06\/17\/the-lost-words-macfarlane-morris\/\">review<\/a> of <em>The Lost Words<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20327\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-english-188x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-english-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-english-640x1024.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-english-768x1229.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/crazy-english.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>Renowned wordsmith Richard Lederer has published numerous books on the outrageous oddities of English. His <em>Crazy English<\/em> (Gallery Books, 1998), for example, is an irresistible overview of the language. (What\u2019s the longest word in English? The most beautiful word? How many different kinds of phobia words are there? And why is English spelling so weird?) For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20379\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nabokovs-favorite-word-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nabokovs-favorite-word-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nabokovs-favorite-word.jpg 329w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p>In Ben Blatt\u2019s <em>Nabokov\u2019s Favorite Word Is Mauve<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2018), data analysis meets literature \u2013 how do writers actually use words? (\u201cOn average, for every 17 words Hemingway wrote, one of them was an adverb.\u201d) For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.6552%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/to-be-or-not-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/to-be-or-not-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/to-be-or-not.jpg 570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3448%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/litemind.com\/e-prime\/\">E-prime<\/a> is a dialect of English that eliminates all forms of the verb \u201cto be,\u201d arguing that this enhances clarity and critical thinking. Give it a try \u2013 \u201cto be\u201d is surprisingly difficult to give up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WONDERFUL WORDS: Fiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20419\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-word-collector-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-word-collector-300x276.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/the-word-collector.jpg 686w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In Peter H. Reynolds\u2019s <em>The Word Collector<\/em> (Orchard Books, 2018), while some people collect coins or stamps, Jerome collects wonderful words. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lexie-300x246.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lexie-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lexie.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In Rebecca Van Slyke\u2019s <em>Lexie the Word Wrangler<\/em> (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2017), cowgirl Lexie \u2013 complete with boots, hat, and lariat \u2013 has a talent for word wrangling, growing letters into bigger and bigger words, and hooking words together: \u201cShe could take a stick of butter and a pesky fly\u2026and make a beautiful butterfly.\u201d But then a word rustler comes to town. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/maxs-words-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/maxs-words-296x300.jpg 296w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/maxs-words.jpg 493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In Kate Banks\u2019s <em>Max\u2019s Words<\/em> (Farrar, Straus &amp; Giroux, 2006), Max\u2019s two older brothers collect stamps and coins, but Max collects words \u2013 cutting them out of magazines or copying them out of the dictionary. His brothers laugh at him \u2013 but eventually, as Max shares his words, the three boys collaborate, using Max\u2019s many words to create a story. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/weighty-word-book-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/weighty-word-book-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/weighty-word-book.jpg 594w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>Paul M. Levitt\u2019s <em>The Weighty Word Book<\/em> (University of New Mexico Press, 2009) consists of 26 short stories centered around a \u201cweighty\u201d word for each letter of the alphabet, from Abasement and Bifurcate to Juxtapose, Scintillate, Ubiquitous, and Zealot. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20321\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boy-who-loved-words-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boy-who-loved-words-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boy-who-loved-words-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boy-who-loved-words.jpg 628w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In Roni Schotter\u2019s <em>The Boy Who Loved Words<\/em> (Schwartz &amp; Wade, 2006), Selig is a word collector, who writes his finds on slips of paper and carries them in his pockets. Finally he attaches his words to a tree \u2013 where some of them blow into the hands of a needy poet \u2013 and Selig discovers that his goal in life is to share wonderful words with others. For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-words-hopkins-234x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-words-hopkins-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-words-hopkins.jpg 468w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins, <em>Wonderful Words<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2004) is a collection of poems about the many aspects of words, among them David McCord\u2019s \u201cHow to Say a Long Hard Word\u201d and Pat Mora\u2019s \u201cWords Free as Confetti.\u201d For ages 6-11.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-O-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-O-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wonderful-O.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In James Thurber\u2019s truly wonderful <em>The Wonderful O<\/em> (Penguin Classics, 2017), pirates Black and Littlejack \u2013 the former of whom has hated the letter O ever since his mother was fatally wedged in a porthole \u2013 land on an island and proceed to ban the letter O. It\u2019s a magical exercise in language \u2013 and a heartwarming tale of overthrowing tyranny. For ages 8-12. And up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ella-minnow-pea-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ella-minnow-pea-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ella-minnow-pea.jpg 334w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>In Mark Dunn\u2019s <em>Ella Minnow Pea<\/em> (Anchor, 2002), Ella lives on the island of Nollop \u2013 named for Nevin Nollop, inventor of the phrase \u201cThe quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.\u201d When letters of this phrase begin dropping off Nollop\u2019s memorial statue, the island\u2019s ruling Council takes it as a sign that the lost letters must be banned altogether. The book is written as a series of letters, which become increasingly impossible to write as more and more letters of the alphabet bite the dust. For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.3103%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20389\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pangram-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pangram-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pangram.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.6897%;\">\n<p>A sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet \u2013 like \u201cThe quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog\u201d &#8211; is called a pangram. See many more <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fun-with-words.com\/pangrams.html\">here<\/a>. (Invent your own!)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WORD PLAY<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/go-hang-a-salami-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/go-hang-a-salami-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/go-hang-a-salami.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>Cartoonist Jon Agee is known for his riotous collections of palindromes, which are phrases that read exactly the same both forward and backward. Try <em>Go Hang a Salami, I\u2019m a Lasagna Hog!<\/em> (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1992), <em>So Many Dynamos<\/em> (1994), or <em>Sit on a Potato Pan, Otis!<\/em> (1999). The illustrations are hilarious; and the palindromes range from the short (\u201cLlama mall\u201d) to the amazingly enormous. Affordable used copies available. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/who-ordered-jumbo-shrimp-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/who-ordered-jumbo-shrimp-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/who-ordered-jumbo-shrimp.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>By Jon Agee, <em>Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp?<\/em> (Farrar, Straus &amp; Giroux, 2002) is a cartoon take on oxymorons \u2013 contradictory phrases such as \u201ccivil war,\u201d which in this book is paired with an illustration of a knight politely apologizing for beheading his opponent. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20324\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/CDB-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/CDB-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/CDB.jpg 323w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>William Steig\u2019s letter-code books are also great (and educational) fun for imaginative word-lovers of all ages: in <em>CDB!<\/em> (Aladdin, 2003), the title illustration shows a pair of children pointing at a bumblebee. The translation is \u201cSee the bee!\u201d \u2013 get it? And there are dozens more. (In one of my favorites, a small boy tells his dog \u201cI M A U-M B-N. U R N N-M-L.\u201d Try it: \u201cI am a human being\u2026\u201d) The sequel, <em>CDC?<\/em>, begins with a helpful parent showing his small daughter the ocean. All ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/puns-and-games-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/puns-and-games-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/puns-and-games.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>Richard Lederer\u2019s <em>Pun and Games<\/em> (Chicago Review Press, 1996) is a collection of wonderful word games and challenges for kids, variously involving awful puns, homographs, homophones, spoonerisms, and more. For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fun-with-words.com\/index.html\">Fun with Words<\/a> is a website devoted to word play, filled with information and puzzles. Categories include anagrams, palindromes, spoonerisms, pangrams, rebus puzzles, word records, and much more.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20311\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/04-crossword-answer-1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/04-crossword-answer-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/04-crossword-answer-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/04-crossword-answer-1.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>One criterion for joining the World War II Bletchley Park code-breaking group was the ability to solve crossword puzzles \u2013 and nowadays there are hundreds of crossword puzzle books for all ages and interests. Good for problem-solving skills and vocabulary-building. From the <em>Smithsonian Magazine<\/em>, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/arts-culture\/crossword-became-american-pastime-180973558\/\">How the Crossword Became an American Pastime<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20423\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thinking-inside-box-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thinking-inside-box-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thinking-inside-box.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>Adrienne Raphel\u2019s <em>Thinking Inside the Box<\/em> (Penguin, 2021) is a fascinating history of crosswords. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.9655%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.0345%;\">\n<p>Try making your own crossword puzzles! See <a href=\"https:\/\/crosswordlabs.com\/\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/crosswordhobbyist.com\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HISTORY OF ENGLISH<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/once-upon-a-word.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"249\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Jess Zafarris\u2019s <em>Once Upon a Word<\/em> (Rockridge Press, 2020) is a fascinating word-origin dictionary for kids, packed with basic information about etymology \u2013 the study of words and their origins \u2013 and many intriguing word-origin stories. (Try this: \u201cAlgebra\u201d comes from the Arabic al-jabr, meaning \u201ca reunion of broken parts,\u201d a term used both in mathematics and in medicine, for the setting of broken bones.) For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/listening-to-america-226x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/listening-to-america-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/listening-to-america.jpg 377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Stuart Berg Flexner\u2019s <em>Listening to America<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 1982) and <em>I Hear America Talking<\/em> (1979) are illustrated collections of the origins, evolutions, historical contexts, and meanings of thousands of phrases unique to American English \u2013 categorized under everything from &#8220;Cowboys&#8221; and &#8220;Dust Bowl&#8221; to &#8220;Voodoo&#8221; and &#8220;World War II and GI Joe.&#8221; A terrific addition to any American history program.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20374\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/mother-tongue-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/mother-tongue-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/mother-tongue.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Bill Bryson\u2019s <em>The Mother Tongue<\/em> (Penguin, 2009) is a catchy history of English \u2013 the most influential language of modern times and a shameless borrower of words from over fifty different languages around the world. A treasure trove of information and oddities for teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inventing-english-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inventing-english-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/inventing-english.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Seth Lerer\u2019s <em>Inventing English<\/em> (Columbia University Press, 2015) traces the history of the language from the age of Beowulf to the age of rap. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/adventure-of-english-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/adventure-of-english-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/adventure-of-english.jpg 393w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Melvyn Bragg\u2019s <em>The Adventure of English<\/em> (Arcade, 2011) is a \u201ccaptivating history\u201d of how English conquered the world. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/our-magnificent-bastard-tongue-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/our-magnificent-bastard-tongue-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/our-magnificent-bastard-tongue.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>Linguist John McWhorter has written several popular books on English and its relatives, among them <em>Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English<\/em> (Penguin Random House, 2008), <em>The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language<\/em> (Harper Perennial, 2003), and <em>Words on the Move<\/em> (Picador, 2017).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20364\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/language-wars-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/language-wars-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/language-wars.jpg 334w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>By Henry Hitchings, <em>The Language Wars<\/em> (Farrar, Straus &amp; Giroux, 2011) is the story of the bitter arguments \u2013 raging at least since Shakespeare\u2019s time \u2013 over just what constitutes proper English. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20377\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-fair-lady-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-fair-lady-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-fair-lady.jpg 357w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>In the musical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0058385\/\">My Fair Lady<\/a> (1964), phonetics professor Henry Higgins wagers that he can turn cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady. (\u201cWhy can\u2019t the English teach their children how to speak?\u201d) Rated G.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 44.8276%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20424\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/timeline-of-english-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/timeline-of-english-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/timeline-of-english-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/timeline-of-english.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.1724%;\">\n<p>From the Children\u2019s University of Manchester, see this illustrated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk\/learning-activities\/languages\/words\/timeline-english-language-2\/\">Timeline of the English Language<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WORDS WE DON&#8217;T HAVE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2533px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 314px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 314px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20337\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/du-iz-tak-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/du-iz-tak-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/du-iz-tak.jpg 373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 314px;\">\n<p>Carson Ellis\u2019s <em>Du Iz Tak?<\/em> (Candlewick, 2016) is a marvelous tale of insects, all told in an invented bug language. \u201cDu iz tak?\u201d asks one, pointing to an emerging seedling. \u201cMa nazoot,\u201d replies the second. Delightful for ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>See a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brainpickings.org\/2016\/12\/08\/du-iz-tak-carson-ellis\/\">detailed review<\/a> from Brainpickings.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20347\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/frindle-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/frindle-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/frindle.jpg 408w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>In Andrew Clements\u2019s <em>Frindle<\/em> (Atheneum, 1998), Nick Allen \u2013 learning about the creation of words &#8211; asks why a pen is called a pen? Why not call it a <em>frindle<\/em>? Soon the new word has caught on \u2013 and then goes nationwide. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 283px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 283px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20368\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lost-in-translation-300x265.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lost-in-translation-300x265.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lost-in-translation-1024x903.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lost-in-translation-768x678.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lost-in-translation.jpg 1147w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 283px;\">\n<p>English doesn\u2019t always have a word for it. By Ella Frances Sanders, <em>Lost in Translation<\/em> (Ten Speed Press, 2014) is an illustrated collection of untranslatable words from around the world. Discover the Norwegian for anything that can be put on a slice of bread, the Finnish for the distance a reindeer can travel before needing to rest, and the Japanese for the way sunlight filters through the leaves of trees. For all ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 264px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 264px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-a-wonderful-word-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-a-wonderful-word-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-a-wonderful-word-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-a-wonderful-word-768x771.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-a-wonderful-word.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 264px;\">\n<p>Nicola Edwards\u2019s <em>What a Wonderful Word<\/em> (Kane Miller, 2018) is a collection of such untranslatable words as the German <em>verschlimmbesserung<\/em> (a supposed improvement that only makes things worse) and the Spanish <em>friolero<\/em> (someone who is always cold). For ages 5 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-the-land-of-invented-languages-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-the-land-of-invented-languages-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-the-land-of-invented-languages.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>When it comes to invented languages, what may first spring to mind are Esperanto and Klingon \u2013 but there are many more. Arika Okrent\u2019s <em>In the Land of Invented Languages<\/em> (Random House, 2010) is a fascinating history of totally-made-up languages, of which there are hundreds. (The earliest known dates to the 12<sup>th<\/sup> century.) For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 202px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 202px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/klingon-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/klingon-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/klingon-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/klingon-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/klingon.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 202px;\">Learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duolingo.com\/course\/eo\/en\/Learn-Esperanto\">Esperanto<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duolingo.com\/course\/tlh\/en\/Learn-Klingon\">Klingon<\/a> from Duolingo. (In just five minutes a day.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20318\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/art-of-language-invention-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/art-of-language-invention-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/art-of-language-invention.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Want to invent your own language? See <em>The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves to Sand Worms<\/em> (Penguin, 2015) by David J, Peterson, who invented the Dothraki language for HBO\u2019s <em>Game of Thrones<\/em>. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/jabberwocky-illustration-by-john-tenniel-681x1024-1-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/jabberwocky-illustration-by-john-tenniel-681x1024-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/jabberwocky-illustration-by-john-tenniel-681x1024-1.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Lewis Carroll\u2019s poem <a href=\"https:\/\/www.poetryfoundation.org\/poems\/42916\/jabberwocky\">Jabberwocky<\/a> is a masterpiece of invented language.<\/p>\n<p>Also see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/e\/words-invented-by-lewis-carroll\/\">The Frabjous Words Invented by Lewis Carroll<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 202px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 43.1034%; height: 202px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/one-ring-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/one-ring-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/one-ring-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/one-ring.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.8966%; height: 202px;\">\n<p>One ring to rule them all. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/science\/2003\/dec\/11\/lordoftherings.film\">How did Tolkien come up with the languages for Middle Earth?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IDIOMS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.4483%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20317\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/amelia-bedelia-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/amelia-bedelia-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/amelia-bedelia.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5517%;\">\n<p>English is a tricky language, beset with deceptive idioms and figures of speech \u2013 and both are the bane of Peggy Parish\u2019s literal-minded housekeeper Amelia Bedelia who, when asked to \u201cdraw the drapes,\u201d sits down with sketch pad and pencil, or told to \u201cput out the lights,\u201d hangs the light bulbs on the clothesline. There are a dozen books in this word-wacky picture-book series, starting with <em>Amelia Bedelia<\/em> (Greenwillow, 2013), in all of which Amelia hilariously tackles the pitfalls of language. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.4483%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/raining-cats-and-dogs-300x241.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/raining-cats-and-dogs-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/raining-cats-and-dogs-768x617.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/raining-cats-and-dogs.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5517%;\">\n<p>By Will Moses, <em>Raining Cats and Dogs<\/em> (Philomel Books, 2008), illustrated with folk-art-style oil paintings, explains such idioms as \u201cin a pickle,\u201d \u201cmake a beeline,\u201d \u201cget the ball rolling,\u201d and \u201con thin ice.\u201d For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.4483%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20420\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/theres-a-frog-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/theres-a-frog-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/theres-a-frog.jpg 509w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5517%;\">\n<p>Loreen Leedy\u2019s <em>There\u2019s a Frog in My Throat<\/em> (Holiday House, 2004) is a collection of 440 illustrated animal sayings, with short explanations \u2013 giggling readers will learn about social butterflies, lucky ducks, why it\u2019s best to let sleeping dogs lie, and how wet you get if it\u2019s raining cats and dogs. For ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.4483%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20354\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-pickle-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-pickle-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/in-a-pickle.jpg 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5517%;\">\n<p>Marvin Terban\u2019s <em>In a Pickle<\/em> (HMH, 2007), <em>Mad as a Wet Hen!<\/em>, and <em>Punching the Clock<\/em> are all cartoon-illustrated collections of a hundred or more different idioms with helpful explanations, among them \u201cin the doghouse,\u201d \u201cin hot water,\u201d \u201cunder the weather,\u201d \u201chold your horses,\u201d and \u201cpunch the clock.\u201d For ages 7-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 43.4483%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thereby-hangs-a-tail-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thereby-hangs-a-tail-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/thereby-hangs-a-tail.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5517%;\">\n<p>Charles E. Funk\u2019s addictive books on \u201ccurious\u201d word origins and expressions \u2013 written like a collection of catchy little short stories &#8211; are wonderful resources for any student of English. Titles (William Morrow, 2002), include <em>Thereby Hangs a Tale<\/em>, <em>Horsefeathers<\/em>, <em>A Hog on Ice<\/em>, and <em>Heavens to Betsy!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BAD WORDS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1594px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/little-birds-bad-word-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/little-birds-bad-word-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/little-birds-bad-word.jpg 403w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>In Joseph Grant\u2019s <em>Little Bird\u2019s Bad Word<\/em> (Feiwel &amp; Friends, 2015), Little Bird\u2019s father drops a worm and lets out an angry BLARK! It\u2019s a new word that Little Bird is excited to share \u2013 but in bird world, it\u2019s definitely not a nice word to use. (Perversely, is almost sure to get your kids exclaiming BLARK!) For ages 4-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elberts-bad-word-254x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elberts-bad-word-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/elberts-bad-word.jpg 424w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>In Audrey Wood\u2019s <em>Elbert\u2019s Bad Word<\/em> (HMH, 1996), a croquet ball lands on Elbert\u2019s big toe at a garden party \u2013 and Elbert acquires a bad word. The word, a furry rat-like little creature, follows Elbert everywhere, until the gardener \u2013 who doubles as a magician \u2013 supplies Elbert with a list of wonderful word substitutes. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 374px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 374px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/magicians-nephew-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/magicians-nephew-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/magicians-nephew.jpg 309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 374px;\">\n<p>C.S. Lewis\u2019s <em>The Magician\u2019s Nephew<\/em> (HarperCollins, 2008), chronologically Book One in the Chronicles of Narnia \u2013 though most readers still start with <em>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe<\/em> \u2013 is the story of the origin of Narnia, beginning when Polly and Digory are sent to the strange Wood between the Worlds by Digory\u2019s wicked magician uncle. The book features the truly awful Deplorable Word which, when spoken, destroys all living things except the speaker. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20410\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shakespeares-insults-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shakespeares-insults-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shakespeares-insults-655x1024.jpg 655w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shakespeares-insults.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Wayne F. Hill and Cynthia J. Ottchen, <em>Shakespeare\u2019s Insults<\/em> (Three Rivers Press, 1995) is a collection of evil and erudite insults, culled from all the plays. (\u201cYou are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face.\u201d \u201cMore of your conversation would infect my brain.\u201d) Better yet for Shakespeare students, screen the plays and collect insults of your own. For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 270px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.1379%; height: 270px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nine-nasty-words-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nine-nasty-words-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nine-nasty-words-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nine-nasty-words.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.8621%; height: 270px;\">\n<p>By linguist John McWhorter, <em>Nine Nasty Words<\/em> (Avery, 2021) \u2013 subtitled \u201cEnglish in the Gutter \u2013 Then, Now, and Forever\u201d \u2013 is a lively and informative history of profanity from a range of angles, from the purely linguistic to the historical, sociological, and political. There\u2019s more to it than just a lot of cursing. An interesting read for teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WORD GAMES<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2916px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 212px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 212px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20402\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quiddler-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quiddler-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quiddler-1024x838.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quiddler-768x628.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quiddler.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 212px;\">\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/SET-Enterprises-5000-Quiddler-Card\/dp\/B00000IV95?th=1\">Quiddler<\/a> \u2013 the SHORT word game \u2013 players get letter cards with which they\u2019re challenged to spell words, from tiny two-letter words up to a max of ten. \u00a0For ages 7 and up.<\/p>\n<p>Play Quiddler online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.setgame.com\/quiddler\/puzzle\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 187px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 187px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boggle-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boggle-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boggle-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/boggle.jpg 425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 187px;\">\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hasbro-Gaming-C2187-Boggle-Classic\/dp\/B01N6PS4L0\">Boggle<\/a>, players shake up letter cubes onto a grid, then try to find the most words within a short amount of time. For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<p>Play <a href=\"https:\/\/wordshake.com\/boggle\">Boggle online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 159px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 159px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20319\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/bananagrams-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/bananagrams-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/bananagrams.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 159px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Bananagrams-BAN001\/dp\/1932188126\/\">Bananagrams<\/a> consists of 144 letter tiles zipped into a banana-shaped pouch \u2013 the trick is to build crossword grids and use up all your letter tiles first. For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 134px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dabble-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dabble-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dabble.jpg 436w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dabble-Word-Game-Educational-Vocabulary\/dp\/B01N2QN7J5\/\">Dabble<\/a>, players race to spell five words using their twenty letter tiles \u2013 first person to do it wins. For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 290px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 290px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scrabble-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scrabble-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scrabble-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scrabble.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 290px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hasbro-Gaming-A8166-Scrabble-Game\/dp\/B00IL5XY9K\">Scrabble<\/a> has been around since the 1930s: a classic crossword board game in which players build words using letter tiles (and winning huge points if they manage to land a Z, Q, or J on a triple-letter square). For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/scrabble.hasbro.com\/en-us\">here<\/a> for Scrabble online.<\/p>\n<p>Try <a href=\"http:\/\/thepixiepit.co.uk\/scrabble\/\">Scrabble in a foreign language<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 134px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-wars-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-wars-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/word-wars.jpg 314w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>Scrabble in the movies! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0390632\/\">Word Wars<\/a> (2004) is a look at the world of competitive Scrabble players. Not rated.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 75px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 75px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20436\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordsmithery-300x282.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordsmithery-300x282.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordsmithery.jpg 425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 75px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/CLARENDON-GAMES-Wordsmithery-Game-Definition\/dp\/B01LYRPDQQ\/\">Wordsmithery<\/a> is a game of word definitions. Draw a word (salubrious, egregious, phalanx), read it to your opponent, and see if they can guess its meaning (Multiple choice.) For ages 8 and up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 134px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20390\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/password-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/password-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/password.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cardinal-Industries-Classic-Password-Association\/dp\/B08G5851ZF\/\">Password<\/a>, a word association game, players do their best to guess the secret password from their partner\u2019s one-word clues. For ages 12 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 159px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 159px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/doublets-150x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/doublets-150x300.png 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/doublets.png 159w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 159px;\">\n<p>The game of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/brain-workout\/200908\/the-doublet-puzzle-masterpiece-the-pen-lewis-carroll\">Doublets or Word Ladders<\/a> was originally invented by Lewis Carroll. Players turn one word into another, one letter at a time. (Say, HEAD into TAIL.) Try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ego4u.com\/en\/chill-out\/games\/doublets\">Doublets online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 184px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 184px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prefix-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prefix-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prefix-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prefix.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 184px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/preFix-Words-Begin-Card-Game\/dp\/B00BM8QYJK\/\">Prefix<\/a>! We\u2019ve loved this one, but it looks worrisomely about to go out of print. Players draw cards with one or two beginning letter prompts and compete to come up with the most (and the longest) words. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 234px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 234px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scattergories-217x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scattergories-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scattergories-740x1024.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scattergories-768x1063.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/scattergories.jpg 1084w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 234px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hasbro-A5226-Scattergories-Game\/dp\/B00D8VHJKC?th=1\">Scattergories<\/a> is a categories-based word game in which players are challenged to come up with a word beginning with a specific letter that fits the categories listed on your card. (Can you come up with a beverage, a mammal, a city, a cartoon character, and a dessert all beginning with the letter B?) For ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 184px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 184px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20378\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-word-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-word-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-word-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/my-word.jpg 488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 184px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/My-Word-Party-Game-Spelling\/dp\/B07WHMGL6L\">My Word!<\/a> (Outset) consists of a pack of single and double letter cards \u2013 first player to call out a word using at least three cards wins those cards. Fast, fun, and good for spelling. For ages 8 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 387px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 387px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20435\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordplay-281x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordplay-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wordplay.jpg 467w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 387px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Wordplay-For-Kids-Board-Game\/dp\/B00005LBY6\/\">Wordplay for Kids<\/a> is a word-building board game: a twirl of the spinner and a roll of the die give players two letters that their chosen word must contain and a category \u2013 say, Living Creatures or Something in the House \u2013 that the chosen word must fit. Can you come up with a food that contains the letters B and L? A girl\u2019s name with J and M? Players compete to build the longest words, thus enabling them to advance around the playing board. For 2-6 players ages 6-12.<\/p>\n<p>For ages 14 and up, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Game-Development-Group-11172-Wordplay\/dp\/B002TBFVV6\">Wordplay Family Edition<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 309px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 309px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quickword-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quickword-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quickword-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quickword-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/quickword.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 309px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgamesinc.com\/Quickword.html\">Quickword<\/a> is a multifaceted word-based game, centered around spelling and vocabulary skills, general knowledge, and creativity. Can you name a flower, a famous ship, and a weapon all starting with the letter S? How many mythical characters can you name? How many words can you come up with that start with B and also contain the letters E and R? (The quick part: you\u2019ve only got 90 seconds in which to do it.) For 2 or more players ages 12 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 134px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 44.6551%; height: 134px;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 55.3449%; height: 134px;\">\n<p>Word games online! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordplays.com\/\">Wordplays<\/a> is a collection on online crosswords, anagrams, word finder games, and more.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For those who haven\u2019t been happy memorizing the definitions of gerund or participle, there are many other resources for approaching the weird and wonderful world&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[779,780],"tags":[1039,1028,1031,1024,1036,1033,1037,1038,1025,1029,1027,1030,1032,1035],"class_list":["post-19584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-literature","category-writing","tag-bad-words","tag-collective-nouns","tag-dictionairies","tag-grammar","tag-history-of-english","tag-homophones-and-homonyms","tag-idioms","tag-invented-language","tag-punctuation","tag-similes-and-metaphors","tag-spelling","tag-synonyms-and-antonyms","tag-thesauruses","tag-word-games"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19584"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20981,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19584\/revisions\/20981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}