The Weighty Word Book

By Elissa S Guralnick, Paul M. Levitt, Douglas A. Burger

If a picture is worth a thousand words, one big word, correctly used, is worth numerous little words. The big words in this book--one for each letter of the alphabet--have been selected not only for their frequency in the written language, but also for their sound. In every instance, the word has more than one syllable and the sound of the word lends itself to a pun.

The stories in the book are, as you will see, suggested by the pun. Although the stories are fanciful, they lead to the correct meaning of the words. By recalling the story and the concluding pun, children ought to remember what each word means. The stories and the puns, therefore, serve as memory hooks and encourage children to increase their vocabulary by forming their own mnemonics for any new words they encounter.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826345557
• ISBN13: 9780826345554
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Unm Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.2" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 9 to 11 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 6

Customer Reviews

Breathes there an adult with soul so dead...

...Who never to the world has saidI 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!

Excellent vocabulary builder for all ages!

I used this book to teach my own children new "Weighty Words," and loved it so much I now use it to teach college freshmen vocabulary. They love hearing the stories. The retention level is amazing, even for words like ingratiate!

Review for The Weighty Word Book

The author of this book has found a wonderful techinique for teaching children words. When I was a freshman in high school, our teacher read this book to us. I can still recite all the words and their meanings.