Noah Webster and his words

While the first thing most readers will associate with Noah Webster is his famous dictionary, it turns out old Webster was something of an overlooked Founding Father. This picture-book biography details his life, from a childhood sloughing off farm work in order to read and an early career as a teacher to the publication of his influential speller and the massive project of his dictionary. Ferris emphasizes that Webster was motivated to codify American English because now that America was free from England, why should Americans spell the way they did in England? Webster's blue-backed speller helped unite the fledgling nation, but that was nothing compared to his dictionary, which took almost 20 years to complete and was the first American book of its kind. Ferris' decision to define upper-level words right in the narrative is clever enough and isn't very intrusive. Meanwhile, Kirsch's fine-lined, bubbly illustrations give Webster a cartoony, swollen head, and he deepens shadows with cursive scribbles. In all, it's a good deal more fun than the subject might suggest.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist

"Noah's dictionary is the second most popular book ever printed in English, after the Bible," writes Ferris toward the end of this quick-witted biography of Webster, which more than does justice to the man and his body of work. Although Webster comes from a long line of farmers, "Noah did not want to be in that long line.... Noah wanted to be a SCHOL-AR [noun: one who goes to school; a person who knows a lot]." This mixture of biographical detail, humor, and vocabulary-building continues throughout Ferris's account, and Kirsch's scraggly mixed-media illustrations create a decidedly unstuffy atmosphere. Webster is shown with a round, oversize head and exaggerated spindly limbs; as words come to define Webster's life (so to speak), Kirsch occasionally uses swoopy script lettering as texture. Webster's commitment to the newly formed nation of America is as evident as his love of language; a timeline and author's note provide further detail about his life. A rousing success [noun: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose]. Ages 4-8. Agent: Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, McIntosh & Otis. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

K-Gr 3-Best known today for his dictionary, Webster was an important figure in early American education. As the new nation was forming, he championed the idea of standardized spellings and usage. He simplified British words, such as "plough" to "plow," and published the first American schoolbooks. This picture-book biography bursts with charm in telling Webster's story. The author puts some words into dictionary form as a reminder of Webster's claim to fame. For example, instead of a farmer, "Noah wanted to be SCHOL-AR [noun: one who goes to school; a person who knows a lot]." The watercolor-and-pencil cartoon illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. A page describing Webster's high self-confidence depicts him with a huge head. An image of young Noah nose to nose with his irritated father is both funny and telling. Primary and secondary sources are listed, as are websites for more information and activities. This informative book would be a great addition to dictionary lessons or to studies of the formation of the United States.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ferris presents a unique and inspiring cradle-to-grave biography that offers more than just simple chronology of the patriot and dictionary-writers life. Even as a child, Noah knew that farming wasnt for him: he "wanted to be a SCHOL-AR (noun: one who goes to school; a person who knows a lot)." He attends Yale, teaches school, and promotes the idea of a strong national government. Most telling is his belief that federalism should be extended to language, one devoid of fancy English spellings (American plow instead of British plough, for example) and one with standardized spellings. "He would write a DIC-TION-AR-Y (noun: a book listing words in ABC order, telling what they mean and how to spell them)." The incorporation of words with their definitions (from Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, natch) is seamlessly done, creating opportunities for vocabulary development and readers theater, but also, and most importantly, concretely showing what Websters work was all about. Kirschs humorous illustrations highlight important moments and build to the storys climax when Noah, with shaky hand, writes the final entry in his book: "ZY-GO-MAT-IC (adj.: related to the cheek bone)." An illustrated timeline, authors note, bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and websites complete the useful and entertaining volume. betty carter (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A charming introduction to Noah Webster, creator of "the second most popular book ever printed in English, after the Bible." Noah Webster loved words and wanted to be a scholar, so at age 15 he entered Yale University and became a teacher. When the Revolutionary War was over, he wanted to write a "second Declaration of Independence," an American spelling book that would systematize American spelling. At a time when Americans spelled words any which way--"mosquito, moskito, miscitoe, misqutor, muskeetor"--this was a way to further unite Americans. He followed his speller with a grammar text, and eventually, at age 70, published his American Dictionary of the English Language. What could have been as dry as a, well, dictionary is here made lively and enjoyable, with appealing cartoonish illustrations and a clear and lively text. Webster is drawn with a balloon-ish head since he "always knew he was right, and he never got tired of saying so." Ferris defines big words in brackets, dictionary-style, throughout the story, a playful device that becomes distracting, since most words can be figured out by context, even by very young readers and listeners. Nevertheless, the volume is a wonderful success in introducing Webster in such a charming manner. Future wordsmiths may be IN-SPIRED [verb: stimulated] by Webster's devotion to the English language. (timeline, more about Noah Webster, bibliography, websites) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

While the first thing most readers will associate with Noah Webster is his famous dictionary, it turns out old Webster was something of an overlooked Founding Father. This picture-book biography details his life, from a childhood sloughing off farm work in order to read and an early career as a teacher to the publication of his influential speller and the massive project of his dictionary. Ferris emphasizes that Webster was motivated to codify American English because "now that America was free from England, why should Americans spell the way they did in England?" Webster's "blue-backed speller" helped unite the fledgling nation, but that was nothing compared to his dictionary, which took almost 20 years to complete and was the first American book of its kind. Ferris' decision to define upper-level words right in the narrative is clever enough and isn't very intrusive. Meanwhile, Kirsch's fine-lined, bubbly illustrations give Webster a cartoony, swollen head, and he deepens shadows with cursive scribbles. In all, it's a good deal more fun than the subject might suggest. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

"Noah's dictionary is the second most popular book ever printed in English, after the Bible," writes Ferris toward the end of this quick-witted biography of Webster, which more than does justice to the man and his body of work. Although Webster comes from a long line of farmers, "Noah did not want to be in that long line.... Noah wanted to be a SCHOL-AR ." This mixture of biographical detail, humor, and vocabulary-building continues throughout Ferris's account, and Kirsch's scraggly mixed-media illustrations create a decidedly unstuffy atmosphere. Webster is shown with a round, oversize head and exaggerated spindly limbs; as words come to define Webster's life (so to speak), Kirsch occasionally uses swoopy script lettering as texture. Webster's commitment to the newly formed nation of America is as evident as his love of language; a timeline and author's note provide further detail about his life. A rousing success . Ages 4â??8. Agent: Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, McIntosh & Otis. (Oct.)

"Noah's dictionary is the second most popular book ever printed in English, after the Bible," writes Ferris toward the end of this quick-witted biography of Webster, which more than does justice to the man and his body of work. Although Webster comes from a long line of farmers, "Noah did not want to be in that long line.... Noah wanted to be a SCHOL-AR ." This mixture of biographical detail, humor, and vocabulary-building continues throughout Ferris's account, and Kirsch's scraggly mixed-media illustrations create a decidedly unstuffy atmosphere. Webster is shown with a round, oversize head and exaggerated spindly limbs; as words come to define Webster's life (so to speak), Kirsch occasionally uses swoopy script lettering as texture. Webster's commitment to the newly formed nation of America is as evident as his love of language; a timeline and author's note provide further detail about his life. A rousing success . Ages 4â??8. Agent: Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, McIntosh & Otis. (Oct.)

K-Gr 3—Best known today for his dictionary, Webster was an important figure in early American education. As the new nation was forming, he championed the idea of standardized spellings and usage. He simplified British words, such as "plough" to "plow," and published the first American schoolbooks. This picture-book biography bursts with charm in telling Webster's story. The author puts some words into dictionary form as a reminder of Webster's claim to fame. For example, instead of a farmer, "Noah wanted to be SCHOL-AR [noun: one who goes to school; a person who knows a lot]." The watercolor-and-pencil cartoon illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. A page describing Webster's high self-confidence depicts him with a huge head. An image of young Noah nose to nose with his irritated father is both funny and telling. Primary and secondary sources are listed, as are websites for more information and activities. This informative book would be a great addition to dictionary lessons or to studies of the formation of the United States.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA