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The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus
For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions -- and it wasn’t long before Peter began writing his own book. But he didn’t write stories; he wrote lists. Peter took his love for words and turned it to organizing ideas and finding exactly the right word to express just what he thought. His lists grew and grew, eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2014
About the author
Jen Bryant
31 books95 followersJen Bryant (Jennifer Fisher Bryant) writes picture books, novels and poems for readers of all ages. Her biographical picture book: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,received a Caldecott Honor award and her historical novel in verse RINGSIDE 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial is an Oprah Recommended Book for ages 12 & up. Other titles include Pieces of Georgia (IRA Young Adult Choices Pick), The Trial (about the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial), a 1960’s-era novel Kaleidoscope Eyes (a Jr. Library Guild selection), Georgia’s Bones, celebrating the creative vision of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, Music for the End of Time, based on a true story about WWII, and Abe’s Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln.
Jen has taught writing and Children’s Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with husband, daughter and their Springer Spaniel in Chester County, PA.
Jen has taught writing and Children’s Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with husband, daughter and their Springer Spaniel in Chester County, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,023 reviews
January 25, 2018
When it is so easy to go to the internet and find a whole list of words for synonyms or antonyms it is difficult to understand the importance of this work at times. It seems so easy now.
This is the biography and story of Peter Roget. He was an amazing person, of course. He was a list maker. He began making lists in a notebook when he was 8 years old. I love this art for this. Adore it. The art is collage and putting things together with lists all over the place. It's bringing things together. Such a beautiful book.
The kids wanted to know what all the random lists in the book said, so it took a while to read. I don't think they really get what this book is about, but they weren't too fidgety so it take that as a win or enjoyment.
This is the biography and story of Peter Roget. He was an amazing person, of course. He was a list maker. He began making lists in a notebook when he was 8 years old. I love this art for this. Adore it. The art is collage and putting things together with lists all over the place. It's bringing things together. Such a beautiful book.
The kids wanted to know what all the random lists in the book said, so it took a while to read. I don't think they really get what this book is about, but they weren't too fidgety so it take that as a win or enjoyment.
August 29, 2014
Stunning, remarkable, extraordinary, staggering, incredible, outstanding, amazing, astonishing, marvelous, phenomenal, splendid.
This book captures the work of geniuses: Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet, and Peter Roget. From cover to cover, Melissa Sweet's illustrations are a feast for the eyes. I felt like I was rummaging in a curiosity cabinet--there's so much to see. Jen Bryant creates an accessible and engaging figure out of Peter Roget, who was a brilliant scientist and word collector. I will look at my thesaurus with newfound respect from now on!
I predict this book will be at the top of many award lists this year. Don't miss the author's and illustrator's notes in the back.
This book captures the work of geniuses: Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet, and Peter Roget. From cover to cover, Melissa Sweet's illustrations are a feast for the eyes. I felt like I was rummaging in a curiosity cabinet--there's so much to see. Jen Bryant creates an accessible and engaging figure out of Peter Roget, who was a brilliant scientist and word collector. I will look at my thesaurus with newfound respect from now on!
I predict this book will be at the top of many award lists this year. Don't miss the author's and illustrator's notes in the back.
May 16, 2022
Well, narratively and with this I of course mean from an entirely textual point of view, Jennifer Fisher Bryant's The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus truly is an absolutely perfect junior level biographical introduction to both the life and times of Peter Mark Roget and his famous (still now in use and also having been globally imitated for many languages other than English) thesaurus. Both clear in general set-up and written in a style that is neither too complicated nor too simplistic, the author presents not only Peter Mark Roget's life story, but also late 18th to middle 19th century European culture and life (both in the British Isles and in Continental Europe, touching on important historical events such as Napoleon's attempted conquest of the latter, on how Peter Mark Roget joined groups like the Royal Society, not to mention his work as a medical doctor and of course culminating in the publication of his famous thesaurus in 1852, which has indeed been in continuous print to this day).
And the inclusion at the back of The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus of both a detailed chronological time-line, as well as an author's and an illustrator's note do indeed much increase teaching and learning value and potential. However for me, personally, what sets The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus apart and truly makes it academically superior is the academic resource page, which features not only a bibliography of works cited and used by Jennifer Fisher Bryant for her narrative, her text, but also suggestions for further reading on and about the late 18th and early 19th century (on individuals such as Mary Anning, Noah Webster and Charles Darwin, as well as a tome on medicine and public health in Victorian England). Furthermore, I also very much appreciate that while Jennifer Fisher Bryant never categorically (and fortunately) claims in The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus that Peter Mark Roget might well have been what is now considered on the autism spectrum, his shyness, his obsession with making lists, his often living and preferring to exist in his own world and in solitude, his introversions are presented, are indeed and clearly shown in the narrative, albeit always without authorial comment or judgement (even though for me, reading about Peter Mark Roget does make me much wonder and consider the very real possibilities of him having perhaps had Asperger's Syndrome or perhaps even a touch of OCD, of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
Now with regard to Melissa Sweet's accompanying illustrations, while I have found them both expressively detailed and colourful, they are also a bit too cluttered and in one's face for me to ever consider them as personal favourites. In fact, as someone who tends to easily get visually distracted, the illustrations unfortunately do have the tendency to sometimes take my attention away from the text, away from the narrative, and focus too specifically on the pictures (and as I basically am reading The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus primarily for the author's printed words, Melissa Sweet's inclination to at times intrude into my reading space and take my eyes away from the presented textual descriptions of Peter Mark Roget and his life and times with her busy and buzzing pictorial renditions are not always all that much appreciated). Still, the accompanying illustrations are adeptly rendered and do indeed provide a generally successful mirror of and for Jennifer Fisher Bryant's narrative, just that for me personally, there is just a bit too much illustrative chaos and too many minute little superfluous pictorial details present (although I can also imagine that for children, that for the intended audience, this might actually be an appreciated bonus).
And the inclusion at the back of The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus of both a detailed chronological time-line, as well as an author's and an illustrator's note do indeed much increase teaching and learning value and potential. However for me, personally, what sets The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus apart and truly makes it academically superior is the academic resource page, which features not only a bibliography of works cited and used by Jennifer Fisher Bryant for her narrative, her text, but also suggestions for further reading on and about the late 18th and early 19th century (on individuals such as Mary Anning, Noah Webster and Charles Darwin, as well as a tome on medicine and public health in Victorian England). Furthermore, I also very much appreciate that while Jennifer Fisher Bryant never categorically (and fortunately) claims in The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus that Peter Mark Roget might well have been what is now considered on the autism spectrum, his shyness, his obsession with making lists, his often living and preferring to exist in his own world and in solitude, his introversions are presented, are indeed and clearly shown in the narrative, albeit always without authorial comment or judgement (even though for me, reading about Peter Mark Roget does make me much wonder and consider the very real possibilities of him having perhaps had Asperger's Syndrome or perhaps even a touch of OCD, of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
Now with regard to Melissa Sweet's accompanying illustrations, while I have found them both expressively detailed and colourful, they are also a bit too cluttered and in one's face for me to ever consider them as personal favourites. In fact, as someone who tends to easily get visually distracted, the illustrations unfortunately do have the tendency to sometimes take my attention away from the text, away from the narrative, and focus too specifically on the pictures (and as I basically am reading The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus primarily for the author's printed words, Melissa Sweet's inclination to at times intrude into my reading space and take my eyes away from the presented textual descriptions of Peter Mark Roget and his life and times with her busy and buzzing pictorial renditions are not always all that much appreciated). Still, the accompanying illustrations are adeptly rendered and do indeed provide a generally successful mirror of and for Jennifer Fisher Bryant's narrative, just that for me personally, there is just a bit too much illustrative chaos and too many minute little superfluous pictorial details present (although I can also imagine that for children, that for the intended audience, this might actually be an appreciated bonus).
January 11, 2018
"Words, Peter learned, were powerful things."
Based on the life of Peter Mark Roget, this beautifully illustrated book brings to life the making of the iconic Roget's Thesaurus. A shy boy born in London, Peter made lists as a coping mechanism to deal with the personal hardships in his life. In words, Peter found confort and as he grew his lexicon grew with him. I came upon this book by chance and simply could not pass it up. The prose and illustrastions pay homage to a man that we all are familiar with (I have used Roget's Thesaurus in past and use it still when writing reviews currently). Roget's Thesaurus is more than a synonyms book, its a treasure of knowledge (thesaurus means treasure house in greek).
Peter Mark Roget was a man that wore many hats. Having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1798 as a doctor (at the age of 19) he went on to write extensively. While the thesaurus is his most notable work (published in 1852), he wrote on a variety of subjects. Math and science were areas in which he excelled. He was also a chess master and one of his observations lead to the first proTotype of the cinema and television camera. As a doctor, he tended to the poor and such was his passion that he co-founded the University of London. When he stopped practicing, he began to speak in front of scientists and inventors. His thesaurus has since been reprinted and his son took over his legacy. Not bad for a kid that started out by simply making lists.
Based on the life of Peter Mark Roget, this beautifully illustrated book brings to life the making of the iconic Roget's Thesaurus. A shy boy born in London, Peter made lists as a coping mechanism to deal with the personal hardships in his life. In words, Peter found confort and as he grew his lexicon grew with him. I came upon this book by chance and simply could not pass it up. The prose and illustrastions pay homage to a man that we all are familiar with (I have used Roget's Thesaurus in past and use it still when writing reviews currently). Roget's Thesaurus is more than a synonyms book, its a treasure of knowledge (thesaurus means treasure house in greek).
Peter Mark Roget was a man that wore many hats. Having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1798 as a doctor (at the age of 19) he went on to write extensively. While the thesaurus is his most notable work (published in 1852), he wrote on a variety of subjects. Math and science were areas in which he excelled. He was also a chess master and one of his observations lead to the first proTotype of the cinema and television camera. As a doctor, he tended to the poor and such was his passion that he co-founded the University of London. When he stopped practicing, he began to speak in front of scientists and inventors. His thesaurus has since been reprinted and his son took over his legacy. Not bad for a kid that started out by simply making lists.
September 28, 2014
Superb
Marvelous
Excellent
Fabulous
Outstanding
Wonderful
Marvelous
Excellent
Fabulous
Outstanding
Wonderful
September 8, 2014
From my blog.
I love words and I love art that plays with words. ABC books, abecedarian novels, lipograms, everything and anything that plays with the art of words is art right up my alley. And so having adored Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet's glorious Caldecott Honor A River of Words, I was agog with anticipation waiting for their latest, The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus . And now that I've seen it, let me tell you -- it was worth the wait. Bryant again captures the essence of a complicated individual in spare and beautifully crafted text. Having now written a book about a real person myself, I'm all the more in awe of anyone who takes on a full biography for children, managing to economically pull out just what is needed about that person's life for young readers to best appreciate his accomplishments. Roget was clearly one brilliant man who loved all sorts of things, words among them. Bryan elegantly presents Roget's lifelong passion for word lists as well as much more. She communicates beautifully just why such lists are so worthwhile by having Roget answer his mother's questions with a single word and then mull over what better ones there might be. She suggests the darker parts of his life, but mostly she shows readers a person who was a passionate learner, passionate creator of word lists, and someone who figured out how to put those passions together to create a unique and wonderful book, the thesaurus.
Words, words, letters and numbers and then more words float through this book. In the text, through the perfect design and, most wonderfully, through Melissa Sweet's art. These marks of language are everywhere in this book, those of Roget's lists dance across one page, march down another, and flit throughout in magical ways. On every page, Sweet's assemblages of paintings and collage are an exuberant delight; the realistic paintings celebrating different parts of Roget's life are often layered one above another; here's one with an elegant file folder border; there's another with paper scraps of lists peeking out behind it. Page after page words drift through, around and in the paintings via speech bubbles, book covers, cards, signs, maps, labels, diagrams, and more. Color and texture are used to brilliant effect, at times repeating within and without an illustration. Most of all it is Sweet's playful use of language through her lovely realistic watercolors of Roget and his experiences, her glorious assemblages of meaning, that bring Bryan's words, Roget's life, and this book to an ethereal place of pleasure.
All in all, The Right Word is a
spectacular
brilliant
dazzling
marvelous
superb
magnificent
work of art.
I love words and I love art that plays with words. ABC books, abecedarian novels, lipograms, everything and anything that plays with the art of words is art right up my alley. And so having adored Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet's glorious Caldecott Honor A River of Words, I was agog with anticipation waiting for their latest, The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus . And now that I've seen it, let me tell you -- it was worth the wait. Bryant again captures the essence of a complicated individual in spare and beautifully crafted text. Having now written a book about a real person myself, I'm all the more in awe of anyone who takes on a full biography for children, managing to economically pull out just what is needed about that person's life for young readers to best appreciate his accomplishments. Roget was clearly one brilliant man who loved all sorts of things, words among them. Bryan elegantly presents Roget's lifelong passion for word lists as well as much more. She communicates beautifully just why such lists are so worthwhile by having Roget answer his mother's questions with a single word and then mull over what better ones there might be. She suggests the darker parts of his life, but mostly she shows readers a person who was a passionate learner, passionate creator of word lists, and someone who figured out how to put those passions together to create a unique and wonderful book, the thesaurus.
Words, words, letters and numbers and then more words float through this book. In the text, through the perfect design and, most wonderfully, through Melissa Sweet's art. These marks of language are everywhere in this book, those of Roget's lists dance across one page, march down another, and flit throughout in magical ways. On every page, Sweet's assemblages of paintings and collage are an exuberant delight; the realistic paintings celebrating different parts of Roget's life are often layered one above another; here's one with an elegant file folder border; there's another with paper scraps of lists peeking out behind it. Page after page words drift through, around and in the paintings via speech bubbles, book covers, cards, signs, maps, labels, diagrams, and more. Color and texture are used to brilliant effect, at times repeating within and without an illustration. Most of all it is Sweet's playful use of language through her lovely realistic watercolors of Roget and his experiences, her glorious assemblages of meaning, that bring Bryan's words, Roget's life, and this book to an ethereal place of pleasure.
All in all, The Right Word is a
spectacular
brilliant
dazzling
marvelous
superb
magnificent
work of art.
April 3, 2021
I grew up using Roget's thesaurus and hadn't given a thought to the author. This book does a wonderful job of telling and showing us, the illustrations are gorgeous, about Roget and how his thesaurus came to be. I loved reading how he immersed himself in the world of words and collated words into lists "according to the ideas which they express." The inclusion of the List of Principal Events is inspired. It was fascinating to read of the main events of his life alongside world events.
April 30, 2017
I wonder if Roget was OCD? He was really obsessed with putting things in order using lists, and this included synonyms, which he later turned into his famous thesaurus. I can relate to this guy, as I'm a listy person myself. After reading this Sibert Medal-winning book, I was left wanting to know a lot more about his life.
Though this book also is a Caldecott honor book, I can't say that these are my favorite illustrations by Melissa Sweeet, though they fit the text. At times, they almost overwhelm the text with their collage quality and complexity. Almost every page contains examples of word lists that Roget compiled. Best of all, the rear endpapers display a list of all 997 words that appeared in the first edition of Roget's thesaurus. Words were listed according to a classification system and not alphabetically, so that, for example, all biology-related terms would be together. I think this guy would have been an excellent librarian, especially in cataloguing!
Bryant includes a timeline of his life and a picture of a page from Roget's original word book at the end. His handwriting is lovely. A list of sources for further reading has given me a title to search out for more information on his life. Use this book to introduce a lesson on synonyms. Recommended!
Though this book also is a Caldecott honor book, I can't say that these are my favorite illustrations by Melissa Sweeet, though they fit the text. At times, they almost overwhelm the text with their collage quality and complexity. Almost every page contains examples of word lists that Roget compiled. Best of all, the rear endpapers display a list of all 997 words that appeared in the first edition of Roget's thesaurus. Words were listed according to a classification system and not alphabetically, so that, for example, all biology-related terms would be together. I think this guy would have been an excellent librarian, especially in cataloguing!
Bryant includes a timeline of his life and a picture of a page from Roget's original word book at the end. His handwriting is lovely. A list of sources for further reading has given me a title to search out for more information on his life. Use this book to introduce a lesson on synonyms. Recommended!
December 29, 2015
This biographical picture book has it all. It has gorgeously detailed illustrations, an inspiring story, a historical timeline and even a reference section. Wonderfully done; a beautiful celebration of words and the man who valued them enough to make them available for everyone.
November 5, 2014
OH MY GOD. If there were any book DESIGNED to delight the wordhounds, the crossword puzzlers, the librarians, Joseph Cornell fans and Adrian Belew AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS IT.
December 13, 2017
I grabbed this when it was on the new display at my library, and loved it then... and loved this reread for the Caldecott club, too. I appreciate how the illustrations are so *full* ... they give me the impression of the artist trying to find just the 'right image,' in a way. Sort of like visual lists, if you will. Imo.
So fascinating to learn that Roget wasn't just a word geek, but like other people of his time he was trying to use principles from the studies of natural history to make sense of the world as a whole, not just one niche of it.
My parents have an older edition of the Thesaurus, from when it was organized by concept. It's difficult to adapt to using that from being used to the alphabetical scheme, but oh it's fun to browse through... at least if one is a word geek.
Bryant & Sweet also created A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams which we read in the club a few months ago. I will continue to look for more by both of them.
4.5 stars rounded down because I have to admit that I don't know anyone I can assuredly recommend this to, and I try to save my 5 star rating for books with a more universal appeal.
So fascinating to learn that Roget wasn't just a word geek, but like other people of his time he was trying to use principles from the studies of natural history to make sense of the world as a whole, not just one niche of it.
My parents have an older edition of the Thesaurus, from when it was organized by concept. It's difficult to adapt to using that from being used to the alphabetical scheme, but oh it's fun to browse through... at least if one is a word geek.
Bryant & Sweet also created A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams which we read in the club a few months ago. I will continue to look for more by both of them.
4.5 stars rounded down because I have to admit that I don't know anyone I can assuredly recommend this to, and I try to save my 5 star rating for books with a more universal appeal.
February 13, 2015
I read it very quickly when it came through Catalog at the library for processing. It seems like a really delightful book, that will arouse a kid's interest in words, or make a kid into a confirmed word lover. Sweet's illustrations are pretty wonderful as usual. She uses words from the thesaurus to illustrate the pages in addition to more traditional pictures. I should read this again, and savor the book more. But in the meantime, I'm really enthusiastic. It is amazing how much information Bryant got about Roget in a relatively tiny picture book! I wish Bryant had showed people how to use a traditional thesaurus but I realize that was more than could be expected for this age level. Since I don't know of many accessible books on Roget for adults even, this book fills a niche in the library collection in a few ways. This book is fascinating, interesting absorbing, wait, Mr. Roget I need more words here! This won the Sibert Award as well as being a Caldecott Honor Award winner and well deserved!
September 24, 2014
WOOOOOOOOOOW. Let's just slap a Caldecott on this and call it day, shall we?
Melissa Sweet's busy, textured, and riotously colorful mixed-media illustration style has always been distinct and accomplished, but she's really doing some next-level work here. Her illustrations transform this perfectly respectable biography of Roget into an attention-grabbing, appropriately detailed, and absolutely immersive experience.
In terms of Jen Bryant's text, this book will work for older picture book readers (5 or 6 and up), but with the added dimension of the text within the illustrations PLUS the handy backmatter, it could be useful up through middle school. Visually, it's appealing for ALL ages.
Hand this one to your budding word nerds, as well to anyone who loves to pore over exciting, insanely intricate artwork.
Melissa Sweet's busy, textured, and riotously colorful mixed-media illustration style has always been distinct and accomplished, but she's really doing some next-level work here. Her illustrations transform this perfectly respectable biography of Roget into an attention-grabbing, appropriately detailed, and absolutely immersive experience.
In terms of Jen Bryant's text, this book will work for older picture book readers (5 or 6 and up), but with the added dimension of the text within the illustrations PLUS the handy backmatter, it could be useful up through middle school. Visually, it's appealing for ALL ages.
Hand this one to your budding word nerds, as well to anyone who loves to pore over exciting, insanely intricate artwork.
February 2, 2015
Word lists, timelines, collages, information galore, and fact-filled illustrations. This book is for anyone who loves words or making lists, or learning about inspiring people. I had no idea what an interesting person Roget was. I want to know more about him after reading this book.
I loved both the author and illustrator notes at the end. After reading them, I went back and read the book again. This is one that shouldn't be read too quickly.
I loved both the author and illustrator notes at the end. After reading them, I went back and read the book again. This is one that shouldn't be read too quickly.
July 2, 2014
Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet do it again. What a dynamic duo they are when it comes to creating picture book biographies. I love this book and all the attention to detail found in the illustrations. Now I want to see an original copy of Roget's Thesaurus.
December 29, 2016
The illustrations and end papers in this picture book are stunning. This is an informational picture book of how Peter Roget came to the idea of creating a thesaurus, a lifelong endeavor and one that started at a very early age. I learned that thesaurus means 'treasure house' in Greek. This informational picture book would be great for introducing students to the joy of being curious about words, motivating students to be a collector of words, and selecting just the right word to communicate ideas.
February 24, 2015
We've all used a Roget's Thesaurus, and this book tells the story behind Mr. Roget. Beautifully illustrated, it still conveys the power of words. Take a look, you won't be disappointed. Or unhappy. Or disenchanted.
January 27, 2021
Author/illustrator team Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet, who have also collaborated on such titles as
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
and
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
, turn in this picture-book biography to the subject of Peter Mark Roget, and the groundbreaking thesaurus that he created. A list-maker from a young age, Roget was also a doctor, teacher and scientist, and was already a well-known figure in the intellectual circles of nineteenth-century London, when he published his first thesaurus in 1852. This was a work that would become immensely influential, not just in the English-speaking world, but across the globe...
I enjoyed The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus quite a bit, appreciating both the informative text from Bryant and the somewhat frenetic mixed media illustrations from Sweet, who was awarded a Caldecott Honor for her work here. As a word lover, I have a weakness for conceptual art that makes use of text - think Joseph Kosuth and those influenced by him - so I enjoyed Sweet's use of a diverse range of words and quotations in her artwork. I found it quite appropriate, moreover, given the subject matter at hand. I also greatly appreciated the back matter here, which presents a timeline including both events from Roget's life and important scientific and historic developments, as well as notes from the author and illustrator, a list of sources and a list for further reading. Recommended to young word lovers, and to picture-book readers seeking engaging biographies.
I enjoyed The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus quite a bit, appreciating both the informative text from Bryant and the somewhat frenetic mixed media illustrations from Sweet, who was awarded a Caldecott Honor for her work here. As a word lover, I have a weakness for conceptual art that makes use of text - think Joseph Kosuth and those influenced by him - so I enjoyed Sweet's use of a diverse range of words and quotations in her artwork. I found it quite appropriate, moreover, given the subject matter at hand. I also greatly appreciated the back matter here, which presents a timeline including both events from Roget's life and important scientific and historic developments, as well as notes from the author and illustrator, a list of sources and a list for further reading. Recommended to young word lovers, and to picture-book readers seeking engaging biographies.
October 12, 2016
I am glad I learned about Peter Mark Roget. In case you don't know, he is a man who created our beloved Thesaurus, a book of synonyms and antonyms that has stayed in print continuously since its first publication in 1852. Such an accomplished personality, and I knew absolutely NOTHING about him!
Melissa Sweet's mixed-media illustrations in The Right Word are creative and extremely effective in conveying Roget's word-collecting and list-making mind:
However, although I LOVED Sweet's artwork in Little Red Writing, the illustrations in The Right Word are a little bit too busy and overwhelming for my liking.
Melissa Sweet's mixed-media illustrations in The Right Word are creative and extremely effective in conveying Roget's word-collecting and list-making mind:
However, although I LOVED Sweet's artwork in Little Red Writing, the illustrations in The Right Word are a little bit too busy and overwhelming for my liking.
December 15, 2017
There is so much going on in this book, it is beautifully crafted and a simple, yet informative, biography of Roget and his thesaurus. Great kids' book.
October 15, 2024
thesaurus means 'treasure house' in Greek
My goodness!!, but I did learn a lot. I can't believe that it never dawned on me to wonder about Roget and how his name came to be associated with a thesaurus.
The presentation is clever and emphasizes what's important.
It's a picture book, but the older the reader, the more he/she will appreciate it.
(Now Jen Bryant needs to write Webster and His Dictionary.)
December 21, 2014
I have a sudden urge to make some lists.
March 8, 2018
I requested this from the library after being delighted by “Some Writer,” another Melissa Sweet children's biography, but this is a much shorter, less detailed book. Once past the surprise, I found “The Right Word” an enchanting, gorgeous little book, and I was absolutely gobsmacked by what a brilliant fellow Peter Mark Roget was! I had no idea. Not just a word compiler (as if that accomplishment merits a “just”!) but also a doctor, and inventor, and a scientist, Roget was a member of the Royal Society, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Entomological Society, etc., as well as the author of works of natural history. Jen Bryant and Melissa sweet have created a beautiful and utterly engaging combination of art and text, hitting the highlights of Roget's life and the birth of his thesaurus, and offering a “List of Principal Events” and author's and illustrator's notes at the end, plus bibliography, for readers eager for more information.
January 24, 2018
Beautifully drawn pages make this interesting little book for children on the life of Peter Roget and his Thesaurus. It also covers his career as a doctor, inventor, scientist and lover of lists. The simplicity of the story is an interesting comparison with the complexity of his work.
December 2, 2014
Bryant and Sweet have something going on here! This is the third biography in their collaboration, and I look forward to the next one. I started out worried that the style was too much the same as A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, but it's really a broad style and palette that seems to be consistent across this series.
For this book, Melissa SweetSweet made a powerful effort to illustrate concepts again and this puts her squarely in the complementary rather than corresponding relationship to the words--a mark of quality! Concepts: what it means to be consumed by lists and categories, what it means to be fascinated by data and scientific processes of collection. Her use of ephemera from the sciences was brilliant, and the busy pages are fun to look at on their own, adding a full and rich visual narrative to Bryant's writing. She provides a visual experience that shouts out the partners' research and use of primary sources!
I think the text suffers from the full timeline approach to biography. I understand that for a children's book there's this desire and maybe need to provide the full arc of the lifetime, but Jennifer Fisher BryantBryant clearly mentioned in her afterword some rich narrative threads that she merely hinted at in the writing. I would have liked to see one of these focused on and developed instead of the full timeline. Give me a deeper feel for who he is as a character, not just the timeline! If you're going in for round 4, gang, would you consider this slice of life approach? I still give it four stars despite my misgivings, because this is one of the top writer/illustrator partnerships working right now!
For this book, Melissa SweetSweet made a powerful effort to illustrate concepts again and this puts her squarely in the complementary rather than corresponding relationship to the words--a mark of quality! Concepts: what it means to be consumed by lists and categories, what it means to be fascinated by data and scientific processes of collection. Her use of ephemera from the sciences was brilliant, and the busy pages are fun to look at on their own, adding a full and rich visual narrative to Bryant's writing. She provides a visual experience that shouts out the partners' research and use of primary sources!
I think the text suffers from the full timeline approach to biography. I understand that for a children's book there's this desire and maybe need to provide the full arc of the lifetime, but Jennifer Fisher BryantBryant clearly mentioned in her afterword some rich narrative threads that she merely hinted at in the writing. I would have liked to see one of these focused on and developed instead of the full timeline. Give me a deeper feel for who he is as a character, not just the timeline! If you're going in for round 4, gang, would you consider this slice of life approach? I still give it four stars despite my misgivings, because this is one of the top writer/illustrator partnerships working right now!
December 2, 2015
Fantastic, extraordinary, magnificent, terrific, wonderful, and many other synonyms of which I can not think right now! The text highlights events in Roget's interesting and multi-faceted life, from his childhood through the publication of his thesaurus. Melissa's mixed-media collages are eye-opening, eye-catching, stupendous, marvelous, ingenious, creative, etc., etc. She used different sorts of papers, leather book binding materials, watercolors, ink, and pencil. Many of her illustrations involve lists of words from Roget's 1852 Thesaurus. Some illustrations are set in frames or panels. The book has a very busy look to it, much like a scrapbook or a journal. This book should be considered for a Sibert mention, or perhaps a Caldecott mention.
October 20, 2015
I won't repeat everything all the other reviewers have said. What I will add is that this book does a beautiful job of quietly assuring children that it's perfectly okay if they're a little different or even obsessive. The authors go out of their way to celebrate Roget for his attentiveness, contributions to society, and quirky traits that less sensitive authors might write off as neuroses. Children who are scared that they are weird or might never be loved can look to Roget and take comfort. It's subtle messaging, but it's so well done that I have to think it was intentional.
On a separate note, adult readers will love the suggested reading bibliography at the back! :)
On a separate note, adult readers will love the suggested reading bibliography at the back! :)
September 28, 2022
I can't say I knew the story of Roget's Thesaurus before this picture book, but it tells the story quite well. Bryant takes an angle of Roget using lists to make sense of his life (his father died young and they moved around) but it's not a heavy or sad book. Would be a great option for learning about synonyms or how to use a thesaurus in the classroom. The illustrations are very interesting, with a collage/Victoriana cut-and-paste look, which makes sense given the subject matter.
November 27, 2022
A compelling picture book biography of a man compelled to keep lists to impose order on a disorderly world. It's the sort of introduction that whets your appetite to learn more.
November 9, 2014
Although I often found the version of Roget's Thesaurus that I used in middle grades to be cumbersome, once I figured out how to navigate it, I found it intriguing. Finding the right word to express precisely how we feel or what we want to say is something with which every writer has struggled. Starting and ending with the intricately designed endpapers, this picture book sheds light on that most intriguing of individuals, Peter Mark Roget, who created and published a thesaurus in 1852 that has remained in print since that time. Not only is the text lively, with every word chosen carefully--no surprise when one considers the book's subject--but the watercolor, collage, and mixed media illustrations are splendid. There is so much to savor in reading this biography of a man relatively unknown in modern times but one who clearly loved words, ideas, and thinking. I can easily picture young Roget wandering about the city streets and the countryside with his notes in his pocket, always in search of the right word. This picture book will leave readers grasping for words to describe their reaction. I'll just leave it at this:
INIMITABLE
PEERLESS
CONSUMMATE
UNPARALLED
UNSURPASSABLE
Buy this book for your classroom library. It is a treasure trove of delight for anyone who loves words.
INIMITABLE
PEERLESS
CONSUMMATE
UNPARALLED
UNSURPASSABLE
Buy this book for your classroom library. It is a treasure trove of delight for anyone who loves words.
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