In the last post, we talked about the importance of encouraging children to study vocabulary, and how you can help students develop good study practices and a love of reading. To follow up on that idea, we found some books that are ideal for use by parents or mentors with younger children, whether you’re reading them out loud together or talking about them afterwards.

Giveaways: An ABC Book of Loanwords from the Americas (Linda Boyden)
If you’ve been reading The Vocabulary Builder’s Blog for a while, you’ll know that we’re fascinated by etymology, the history of words. This is a wonderful book to encourage that same interest in children ages 4 to 8, and combines vocabulary building with short explanations of where and when English acquired words such as abalone and raccoon, along with more details about the native peoples whose languages those words came from and informative paragraphs about the things themselves (such as a discussion about the current problem of over-fishing abalone in some areas).

Ounce, Dice, Trice (Alastair Reid)
Originally published in 1953, this book was recently reissued as part of the New York Review Children’s Collection. It’s less of a vocabulary “study” book and more of a vocabulary “play” book – with words such as sibilant and galoshes, plus anagrams and palindromes and words that are just a lot of fun to say out loud, this charmingly-illustrated book is perfect for children ages 9-14 who already enjoy the beauty and creativity of the English language (and an excellent way to encourage that attitude in others!).

L is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue (Chronicle Books)
With clever illustrations and memorable phrases, this dictionary of under-appreciated words will delight children ages 9 and older as it teaches them the meaning of words like discombobulated and vigilante. It’s a book that they’ll enjoy reading, since every page has interesting and useful words to learn about, but it’s also helpful as a reference guide like any other dictionary.

The World Almanac Puzzler Deck: Vocabulary and Wordplay (Lynn Brunelle)
Sometimes the easiest way to get kids to learn is to present them with a game, and if you know children who would rather work out a puzzle, no matter how difficult, than review a list of spelling words, this deck of puzzle cards would make a perfect gift. Unscrambling words, adding and subtracting letters, and reading through puns and riddles will sharpen reading and spelling skills. The easy-to-carry card format allows children to take a handful or an entire box with them on road trips or voyages by airplane, and are good tools for interactive study sessions with parents or friends.