Reviews (2)

Great Introduction
My son who usually doesn't like to sit in one place very long, actually read the book for a stretch of an hour without any dangling carrots! I strongly recommend this book for any home library.

The book is organized by subject groups, ie birds, fish, plants, worms, etc. The pages are full of clear and short descriptions(just right for elementary school children), and wonderful pictures of the animals/insects in action. I found myself reading it with equal enthusiasm. It is a great introduction to the living creatures around us.

Good intro reference book for kids.
Great information, but would like to find a good reference book like this that does not include evolution as the primary theory of why things are like they are. ... Read more

Amazon.com

How would you define "bump" for a 6-year-old? The Scholastic First Dictionary outlines it as follows: "1. A bump is a round place that is above the area around it. William got a bump on his head when he hit it on a low branch of a tree. When something has many bumps on it, we say it is bumpy. The country road was bumpy. 2. When you bump into something, your body hits something you didn't mean it to hit." Not bad, eh? The chief advantage of this straightforward, inviting dictionary is that it is accessible to young readers--the definitions are written in complete sentences with age-appropriate language, and each word is used in a simple sentence.

Containing more than 1,500 words highlighted by bold, kelly-green type, the Scholastic First Dictionary is targeted to the reading level--and interests--of elementary school students, and not designed to be comprehensive. For example, "knitting" is not in this dictionary, but "kneel," "knife," and "knight" are. "Iguana" is not there, but "igloo" is.Each page of this 224-page volume contains an average of eight words, and includes at least two full-color photos to help illustrate word meanings. The real value of this resource for children is in helping them build basic dictionary skills and as a general guide for early readers, teaching them how to spell words, how to pronounce them, what words mean, how to use them in a sentence, how words change form, and, of course, discovering new words. The crisp, colorful layout encourages hours of contented browsing for the voracious young knowledge seeker. A great gift for any budding reader! (Ages 5 to 9) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Scholatic First Dictionary
Teaching my child to read has been a great experience. To teach him to look up the meaning of new words has become a fun time activity. This book is essential for faimlies with school age children. ... Read more

Book Description

Every entry in this award-winning dictionary has a full-sentence definition and a clear example sentence to illustrate meaning.
• 1,800 entries defined in complete, age-appropriate sentences
• 650 lively, full-color photographs and drawings, updated with new selections
• Revised phonics and spelling sections for building basic reading skills ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Only for young elementary children
I bought this for my son in 4th grade hoping he would find it very useful. However when he tried to look up the word "reflect" so he could see how to spell it, the word was not in this dictionary. For children in 1st or 2nd grade, this dictionary might be fine, but children in 3rd grade or higher will need a dictionery with more than 50,000 words. My search continues...

A nice start for 1st and 2nd graders...
This book is a nice place for first and second graders to start when they need to look up a word. It has 650 color illustrations (drawings and photographs), 1,800 entries, and pretty well covers the beginning words used by young readers. Each entry has a definition, as well as uses the word in a sentence to give context. If there is more than one definition, they are numbered in order of common usage. Variant forms of the word are listed at the end of the definition. The illustrations are bright and cute, and the type is large enough to facilitate easy reading.

My only real quibble with this book is that there is no pronunciation guide given for words. I realize youngsters might not be able to use such a guide all the time, but it would be good to have anyway. All in all a nice book for the 5-7 age range, but if you're looking for older kids, look elsewhere.

Not sure of reading age group!
The Synopsis states that it is a great book for 6 and 7 year olds, yet the age recommendation states for 9 thru 12 year olds. Which age group IS it for?

Well Prepared for First Grader
Here is a dictionary that your son/daughter will enjoy using, as well as learn. Sounding out words and being able to see a picture of the word is an extremely powerful tool. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Even young writers have to think about choosing the right word. This popular, easy-to-use thesaurus can help children in the middle grades make the best choice to suit their meaning and enliven their writing.
• 4,000 main entries, with more than 36,000 synonyms in all
• Hundreds of Word Group and Antonym features for extra word power ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The book's great, but kids won't use it.
3 stars is a compromise between 5 for the book, and 1 for the fact that my 9 year old has never used it. Kids will use dictionaries, but they won't use a thesaurus.

A Perfect Children's Thesaurus
The American Heritage Thesaurus is a must reference book for any home with children. Each researched word, printed in blue large bold print, is accompanied with the a description, printed in black, of the part(s) of speech the word can be used, several best choice synonyms, and a few lesser utilized synonyms. In addition, an example sentence incorporating the researched word is provided. Occassionally a list of antonyms is provided for the researched word. Researched words are easily located as a result of a large space between each word. Each two page spread usually contains one or two color photographs adding some visual appeal. In summary, this thesaurus is highly recommended and is an invaluable resource for any child of reading age.

The American Heritage Childrens Thesaurus
I baught the childrens thesaurus for my 9 year old daughter, itis used more than our other thesaurus by me and my teenagedchildren. It is very fast and easy to use. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best books I've ever owned
My parents bought me this book in hardcover about ten years ago, and it has been indispensible. It covers a broad enough base of information so well, and with enough depth, that it has been a constant and indispensible reference for me through GCSE science in the UK, high school chemistry in the US, and even sometimes during my undergrad chemistry and physics. The illustrations are wonderful, and the explainations lucid. I would definitely recommend this for anyone with a child in school, or anyone who wants to look at a bit of basic science.

Absolutely brilliant.
About 15 years ago, as a 9 year old, I read the three books that make up this Dictionary of Science (the Biology, Physics and Chemistry ones). I was completely captivated by them, and read them over and over again. The science is pitched at exactly the right level for children: the colourful illustrations and short sections retain a child's attention. I went on to take biology, physics and chemistry A-levels at age 17, and went on to study Medicine at Cambridge University in England. Obviously there was more to this achievement than the Usborne books I read as a child, but I honestly do attribute much of my initial interest to them.

This book is excellant, great illustrations!!!!
This book is a wonderful source of science information, the colurful illustrtaions help explain the theorys that are explained in the book. It is a book for all levels. It is not just a dictionary but a true sience resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Learning to read is lots of fun with the help of Little Critter® and his friends! This picture dictionary featuring mercer Mayer's Little Critter® is designed especially for children ages 4 to 7. With bright, colorful illustrations, it is the perfect starting point for beginning readers. Not only were the words chosen from age-appropriate vocabulary lists, the pages were designed to make this dictionary a complete learning guide. Young children can use it to make connections between the written word and it's meaning, while older children can use it as a handy reference book.

Book Description

Charming characters and easy-to-understand contextual sentences add up to foreign language dictionaries that children will adore! The Just Look 'n Learn Picture Dictionary series can be used as a way to build the language skills of children ages seven through twelve, or as home reinforcement of school learning for students grades three through six. Each book defines and illustrates more than 1,500 commonly taught words in the language.

Accompanied by colorful and fun illustrations, each entry begins with a headword given in English, followed by its translation and example sentences in both languages­­all to make the meaning of each word perfectly clear. Also, these dictionaries aid learning of numbers, days of the week, directions, and telling time in the new language. Both adults and children will find that this series makes language learning easy and enjoyable.

Book Description

THE COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION OF
THE #1 Children's Dictionary

More information • More color photos • More features that will attract and inform • Up-to-date entries and definitions in a visually appealing, easy-to-use design • Special features, such as "Language Note" boxes that give advice on word usage, "Word History" sections that explain the derivations of selected words, "Expanded Entry" areas that supply more information on selected words and topics • The newest scientific, computer, and cultural terms for the modern child

Authoritative • Accurate • Current
The Most Complete Reference Tool for Today's Child ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great choice for a 2nd to 4th grade child
This dictionary has 35,000 entries which makes it substantial enough for elementary school students without being intimidating. I compared it in the store with the DK Merriam-Webster Children's dictionary. The two dictionaries are similar in size and scope. Looking at the first page of entries, the DK Merriam-Webster included several words not included in this MacMillan (ab-, aback, abaft, abash, abbess, abbot) while the MacMillan included "AB" (the postal abbreviation for Alberta.) This MacMillan used the entry word in a sentence more often than the DK Merriam-Webster. My main reason for choosing it over the DK Merriam-Webster is that it had a nicer, two-column uncluttered layout that is much easier for the younger child to work with than three-column layout of DK Merriam-Webster, which is very "busy" looking.

Great dictionary for kids
This is very good dictionary for kids. My son goes to 3rd grade and he writes a reading journal. This dictionary helps him to find the right spelling. He loves to write and use this dictionary. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Highly recommended
I certainly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning Physics and want to use it as a reference. I find it really interesting with a lot of good graphics although the subject itself may require some earlier knowledge in Physics. ... Read more

Book Description

From the publishers of the best-selling Macmillan Dictionary for Children, here is the Macmillan Dictionary for Students. Authoritative and easy to use, it is the most comprehensive dictionary geared specifically to the needs of junior-high and high-school students. It contains 90,000 entries, 120,000 definitions, and more than 1,900 illustrations to make meanings absolutely clear. The Macmillan Dictionary for Students also offers such helpful features as 34,000 illustrative sentences, 19,000 notes on word origins, and 2,000 synonym studies. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great for students!
This dictionary breaks down the definiton with several definitons and illustrations. I reccommend this dictionary for all students..

Very helpful- it has paid for itself over and again in use
My daughter (4th) grade was having homework in which she continually needed a dictionary for home use. We purchased this one, and it has been very worth it. We have used it time and again all year long and will continue to do so. The definitions are easy to read and comprehend, as well as up to date. My daughter loves it and so do I. It is written for a child to read and understand, yet at the same time, the definitions are accurate and not "watered" down just because it is a dictionary for kids. I highly recommend it to all parents of kids who will need help with definitions in their homework and also, as they read for pleasure. Finally, I AM a teacher, and as I teacher I recommend it HIGHLY as I have had many opportunities to compare it to many other dictionaries.... and this is one of the best!!

good begginers dictionary!
there was,however,a lack of interesting adjectives! however, it did help me when needed, but now i own and frequently use,a Merriam-Websters collegiate dictionary,deluxe edition. as a student, my macmillan dictionary for students, came of great use. i enjoy relaxing and reading/skimming through dictionaries , and well, this one kept me entertained for several days. i was,however, dissappointed by the lackof interesting adjectives,but this dictionary is still a good buy!

suspenseful!
I read this Dictionary from Macmillan, cover-to-cover. It was completely and utterly suspenseful! I loved how you turned a page and there were another 65 or so words! I also memorized all the definitions in this wonderful dictionary, you should too! Recommend it to all your studious friends! I also recommend that you read the Oxford Family Encyclopedia. Its the "ultimate single-volume reference for home, school, and office"! Enjoy, Readers! ... Read more

Book Description

Created by leading educators, these colorful, large-size dictionaries introduce beginning language learners to more than 1,550 commonly taught basic words. Each Let's Learn Language Picture Dictionary in the series boasts 30 delightful two-page spreads that vividly illustrate the meanings of words. Fun-filled panoramas focus on scenes familiar to children aged three through eight, such as home life, the classroom, city life, sports, the zoo, and even outer space! Learners will love to revisit these detailed depictions of people, places, actions, and objects, each time improving their recall. Featured words are set off with individual illustrations and definitions to help learners at various levels build vocabulary. Includes an index and glossary of all the individually illustrated words. An ideal selection of first word books for parents and teachers who want to encourage second language acquisition.

Reviews (4)

Beginning Book
I got this book some years ago. I used it to name things in some of my pictures, but other than that, It's not very helpful to me. But I used this book for a while. But as I got more advanced in Japanese, the book was opened less. I'd recommend this book with another book or computer program, one that teaches simple sentences and also Hiragana, Katakana, and is you feel up to learning it, Kanji.

My First Japanese Dictionary. It Is Fantastic!
My mother is a Japanese and I am a Japanese American. She and I will be using this book to teach my son Japanese. The drawings in this book are very friendly. Kids have fun time reading this book.

We also use this book to teach adult students Japanese. Like the saying "pictures worth thousand words", the grown-ups also find the classes interesting when using material like this one.

One great thing about this book is that Kanji and English are also listed next to each picture. That is a big help for those who are serious about learning how to read and write Japanese...

We highly recommand this book.

Not what I expected.
This is actually a very well written and illustrated book. The problem is that I am a beginner. This book has hiragana, katakana, and kanji all mixed on the same pages. I am not quite ready for kanji. If you are, the book is perfect. For the true beginner, you may wish to hold off on this book until you learn hiragana and katakana in complete detail!

Japanese Picture Dictionary
This book is a necessity for any student of the Japanese language. Hundreds of words each have their own illustrations and most pages have large, beautiful composite drawings great for point 'n' mane practice. The subjects are very diverse and include "The Make-Believe Castle", "The Attic", and "The Mouse Hunt", which list some unusual and fun words. I might just need to say 'fairy princess' while in Japan, or reading manga. The book uses English, romanjij (Japanese words in the Roman alphabet), as well as kana and kanji (Japanese characters) so readers of any skill level can read and use the book. As a beginning student of the language, I found the multiple alphabet format used for each word very helpful. I enjoyed reading and learning from this book very much and I recommend it as an addition to any language student's or child's library. ... Read more

Book Description

This visual dictionary looks at the progress of civilizationover time, from Ancient Rome to today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Book!
For us, this book is a GREAT suppliment to our Intro to World History! This book is full of real photos of objects found to be from several ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamia, Ancient Eygpt, China and others. My 7yo loves it! While I don't read everything to her from the texts, she can still put a "face" to the places we study to see that these people really lived. ... Read more

Book Description

Fully updated for the twenty-first century, The New First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy gathers together all of the essential facts that youngsters should have at their fingertips for school success. The child education expert E. D. Hirsch, Jr., cuts through the wealth of information available today to highlight those terms that a child should be familiar with by the end of sixth grade. With nearly 3,000 concise definitions, including 250 new entries (Harry Potter, centaurs, northern lights, and World Series, to name a few), this popular sourcebook makes finding information easy. Here is everything your child needs to know to be culturally literate in 21 different subject areas, from mythology to literature to U.S. history to science and technology, and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

A longtime favorite of teachers, parents, and children, this new edition of The Weighty Word Book will delight the next generation of beginning readers. For every letter of the alphabet, a big multisyllable word, such as "zealot" or "abasement," is defined by a whimsical story and a telling pun. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

It has the kids circling around
I bought this book to help my soon to be fifth grade daughter who has an interest in language. Her best friend now asks for us to read the book whenever she comes over. My daughter took it on a camping trip and kids came from all around to read it with us. They love it! Even my husband enjoys hearing the stories (we both learned a couple new words, and we have masters degrees!). Buy this book for any older elementary child you know. Its a great gift to their future and they will have a great time with it!

Still Remember This Book...
As a fifth grader, one of my favorite teachers read this book aloud to our class once a week. Today, as a high school junior, I still remember every word and story from the Weighty Word Book. Recently I took the PSAT and SAT, and between the two tests words from this book showed up 4 or 5 times. It has been an extremely beneficial part of my education.

Breathes there an adult with soul so dead...
...Who never to the world has said
I love this book, this children's book...

Adults read children's books to children, but seldom pick one up for their own pleasure. They miss a lot by the omission. THE WEIGHTY WORD BOOK is an example of a book written for children that is delightful for adults, at least adults who love words.

It's written by three University of Colorado English professors and consists of a series of whimsical and enchanting stories about words -- selected words, useful and syllabic.

In the first story, for example, Benjamin Van Der Bellows, a bear "who did not know the things he was supposed to know" is moved each time he makes a mistake to an office on a lower floor. Predictably, he winds up in the basement. "So, whenever a person has been lowered in position or rank or office, we say that person has suffered an abasement."

There's an imaginative and articulate story about each letter of the alphabet. Don't miss this one -- it's for all ages and it's loads of fun.

The Weighty Word Book
I have used The Weighty Word Book for 10 years in my third and fifth grade classrooms. The vocabulary words are excellent and the stories that help show the meaning are entertaining and meaningful. The students ask for me to read the book to them and they often not only remember the words, but also the stories for years. This is a wonderful book to show kids that they can have fun learning new "hard" vocabulary words. Try it, you'll find that you'll improve your own vocabulary.

This book coruscates!
My nearly 10-year-old daughter and I are thoroughly enjoying this book, and know that we are going to be clamoring for more. This is a tremendous book to read on your own, but even better to share it aloud with others! ... Read more

Book Description

Tailored specifically to the needs of students, these portable paperback dictionaries are the ideal companions for anyone beginning to learn Spanish or French.

With its student-friendly features and compact paperback format, the Larousse Pocket Student Dictionary is an invaluable tool for beginning language learners and teachers. Available in both Spanish-English and French-English editions, the Larousse Pocket Student Dictionary offers a clear layout and eye-catching design that make the dictionary fun to browse and easy to use.The vocabulary has been adapted specifically to the needs of students, and thousands of examples show words used in context.

The dictionary features:

•20,000 words and phrases with 45,000 translations

•no confusing abbreviations—parts of speech and noun genders are given in full

•boxed entries on aspects of life and culture in Spanish-speaking or French-speaking countries
•warning boxes for false cognates

•grammar notes to explain common difficulties when learning a new language ... Read more