The Right Word

Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. By Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0802853851.

Plot Summary

Peter Mark Roget was a young boy when his father passed away. His family moved frequently, which made it difficult for him to make friends. It was during this time that he discovered that books were good friends, and began his own book. Instead of writing stories, he wrote lists. Rogets went to medical school and became a doctor, but never lost his love for words and lists. He continued working on his word lists and finished his first book when he was a young doctor. He spent several years adding to his book of word lists. In 1852 Roget published his Thesaurus, and it was an instant hit.

Critical Analysis

This compelling picture book biography portrays a vivid history of the man that created the Thesaurus. On several pages, the text is written in list form. Word bubbles in the illustrations help add to the dialogue. There are also small excerpts that look like they were taken from his word lists.

The illustrations help make the story come alive. The illustrator used a combination of watercolor, collage, and mixed media to give depth to the vibrant illustrations. Words of varying sizes and fonts add to the charm of this book.

The back of the book features a “List of Principal Events.” This is basically a timeline of Roget’s life that includes important world events as well. The main events from Roget’s life appear in black, while world events are written in red. The book also inlcudes notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography of sources used.

Awards

2015 Caldecott Honor Book
2015 Sibert Medal Winner

Review Excerpts

Booklist Starred Review: “In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

School Library Journal Starred Review: “Those who have relied upon a thesaurus . . . will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget. . . . Busy and exuberant, Sweet’s charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget’s passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery."

Connections

* Students can create a timeline of their life, similar to the one in the back of the book.

*Students can create their own mini thesaurus.  

*Other biographies about people who loved words:

·         Bryant, Jen. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. ISBN 978-0802853028.

·         Sweet, Melissa. Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White. ISBN 978-0544319592.