The Dictionary Story

April 15, 2024
Prior collaborators Jeffers and Winston used type as a dynamic visual element in A Child of Books, and it takes center stage too in this title—a quick-moving tale about a dictionary, “never quite sure of herself” among other books’ clear arcs. When the dictionary resolves to “bring her words to life,” an alligator promptly pushes two columns of A definitions apart like curtains and bursts theatrically onto the page. Alligator takes off, crossing left to right over arrayed definitions, tripping over illustrated Cloud, and “smelling something Delicious on the D pages.” Donut, anxious not to be eaten, accidentally rolls into Ghost, then plunges onward, startling Moon, who’s “surprised to see two words from the start of the dictionary.” The work features the leaves of a real dictionary within its own narrative spreads, setting up pleasing tension between unruly cartooned dictionary denizens and lines of crisp type, which droop and slide alarmingly under the characters’ pressure. Chaos ensues between the beings, until the dictionary manages to put her pages in order again. It’s a careful-what-you-wish-for story whose meta conceit and comic pacing would tickle any lexicographer. Ages 3–7. Agent: Paul Moreton, Bell Lomax Moreton.

Starred review from June 1, 2024
The creators of A Child of Books (2016) are back with another charming work of metafiction. A little dictionary notices that while other books tell stories, she's just a list of definitions. Eager for change, Dictionary decides to bring her words to life, and things almost immediately get out of hand. A hungry alligator invades the D pages in search of a doughnut, which bounces further into the dictionary, running into a ghost, the moon, and a queen. All the while, and on almost every page, clues to the personalities, wants, and needs of the now-living words appear in the dictionary definitions, which are original, hilarious, and impressively plentiful. Things literally spiral into chaos thanks in large part to the appearance of a tornado, spilled ink, a Viking, and more. It takes Dictionary's friend Alphabet, who has a helpful little song, to get things back in order once more. Unimaginable care has been taken with the very real handmade books that visibly bookend the story (the dictionary is noticeably worse for wear by the end). Meanwhile, pages are filled to the brim with tiny details for eyes both young and old to find and enjoy (for instance, the editors of this dictionary are listed as "Woliver Effers and Jam Spinston"). The occasional human characters have fanciful skin tones. With hijinks and hilarity hidden on every page, this is a sweet, strange, wordy tale bound to delight all who pick it up. (Picture book. 4-10)

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Starred review from June 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 5 *Starred Review* The Dictionary is envious of other books. While she is full of words, she does not have her own story to tell--until the day she decides to bring her words to life. A hungry alligator moves off his page and travels toward D, drawn by the smell of Donut. More illustrated versions of words leave their pages behind as Cloud, Ghost, Moon, and others engage in a chase from A to Z. This marvelously creative endeavor plays out in unexpected ways. At first, the pages may appear to represent a typical dictionary, but look more closely. There are words in bold print, followed by pronunciations and accurate definitions. The text then goes further by including a funny secondary reference, for example "tall: Above the average height. Which can get quite complicated because a tall turkey is tiny in comparison to a tiny tiger, and a tall tiger is tiny compared to Thailand." Multimedia illustrations incorporate handmade books, photography, and painting. As in Jeffers' and Winston's earlier collaboration, A Child of Books (2016), words on the page break apart, move, and rearrange themselves to become significant elements of the pictures. This is equally successful on varying levels: a young child would enjoy the humor of the characters' adventures, while older readers and adults can delve into the rich details of the dictionary pages themselves.

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