The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus tells the life story of Peter Mark Roget, creator of the thesaurus. From his childhood in Switzerland to his career as a doctor in London, the book traces Roget's lifelong passion for collecting and organizing words. Lists helped young Peter make sense of his world after his father's death, and he continued making them throughout his life. His dedication to science and medicine ran parallel to his work categorizing language, eventually leading to the publication of his thesaurus in 1852. Sweet's illustrations incorporate Roget's actual lists and notes, while Bryant's text emphasizes his determination to find precise ways of expressing ideas. The book demonstrates how one person's method of understanding the world became a resource that millions now use to find the right word.

Readers commend the book's integration of biographical details with the evolution of Roget's thesaurus creation. Parents and teachers note it works for ages 7-12, though some successfully use it with younger children. Readers praise: - Sweet's collage-style illustrations that incorporate Roget's actual lists - Clear explanation of how lists helped Roget cope with loss and anxiety - Effective portrayal of how one person's organizational system became a useful tool Main criticisms: - Text density can overwhelm some young readers - Some find the collage style visually busy - A few note it moves slowly for children under 7 Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) School Library Journal: Starred review "The illustrations perfectly capture Roget's obsession with cataloging and organizing," notes one teacher reviewer. A parent writes, "My 6-year-old struggled with the pacing, but my 9-year-old was fascinated by how lists can become books."

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Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet Through letters, photos, and manuscripts, this biography reveals how E.B. White's love of words shaped his journey from child writer to celebrated author.

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🔖 Peter Mark Roget worked on his thesaurus for nearly 50 years before it was first published in 1852, organizing and reorganizing words while working as a successful physician. 🎨 The book's illustrator, Melissa Sweet, incorporated actual pages from Roget's original lists and his personal diary into her artwork, adding historical authenticity to the illustrations. 📚 The first edition of Roget's Thesaurus contained 15,000 words organized into six primary categories: abstract relations, space, matter, intellect, volition, and affections. 🌍 Author Jen Bryant discovered that young Peter Roget spoke four languages and began making word lists at age eight to help cope with anxiety and loneliness after his father's death. 📖 The book received multiple prestigious awards, including the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal and the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.