PLOT SUMMARY

Roget was a curious boy who loved to make lists to make sense of his world. Of his lists, lists of words that were similar was his favorite. Learn about Peter Mark Roget and his idea for and creation of the thesaurus in this wonderfully crafted picture book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Colorfully illustrated by Sweet using watercolor, collage, and mixed media techniques, this book is a feast for the eyes. There is interesting (and relevant) word art to explore on each page, many using lists from Roget’s notebooks. The story is arranged, on many pages, in the form of a list to emphasize Roget’s love of list making throughout his life. Bryant tells Roget’s life story and makes it accessible to young readers. The inclusion of a timeline of Roget’s life with world events for reference is helpful for students to make real-world connections, while the bibliography, sources, and suggested reading assist students with research and lend credibility. It is easy to see why this book has won so many awards and is a must read for anyone curious about how the thesaurus came to be printed.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Awards: Caldecott Honor 2015, Sibert Medal 2015, NY Times Notable Childrens Book 2014, Kirkus Best of 2014, School Library Journal Best Books of 2014, and many more.

KIRKUS REVIEWS: *Starred Review* “Bryant’s prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers… Sweet tops herself — again! — visually reflecting Roget’s wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment. Injecting her watercolor palette with shots of teal, scarlet and fuchsia, Sweet embeds vintage bits (ledger paper, type drawers, botanical illustrations and more), creating a teeming, contemplative, playfully celebratory opus. In a word: marvelous!”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man…An excellent illustrated biography.”

CONNECTIONS

*Have students make lists of their favorite words and then join all the lists and put them into categories.

*Other books by Bryant and Sweet:

Bryant, J. A RIVER OF WORDS: The Story of William Carlos Williams. Ill. by Sweet, M. Eerdman’s Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0802853028

Bryant, J. A SPLASH OF RED: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. Ill. by Sweet, M. Knopf, 2013. ISBN 978-0375867125