Synopses & Reviews
Ancient names come to rich and fascinating life in this lavishly illustrated gift book for mythology fans and word lovers. Did you know that and#8220;museumsand#8221; were initially temples built to worship the nine muses, the goddesses of the arts? That and#8220;Janusand#8221; was the god of the doorways and hallways, and we have named our janitors after him?
Where did these words and#8212; and other words, such as chaos, genius, nemesis, panic, echo, and narcissus and#8212; come from? From the ancient stories of the Greeks and#8212; stories that rang so true and wise that the names of the characters have survived for centuries as words we use every day. The brief stories here not only impart the subtle wisdom of these ancient tales, but make us understand the words, and our own world, more deeply.
Review
"A treat for myth lovers and language lovers alike, this smart and well-executed compilation should provide readers with a deeper understanding of the ways in which language evolves and of the surprising symbolism behind certain words."--
Publishers Weekly, starred review "The colorful artwork and brief chapters make this volume ideal for classroom sharing. Use this unique offering to launch a discussion about the elemental power of story and its influence on modern-day language."--School Library Journal
"Sure to attract language arts teachers who want students to master word origins, this work will also hold strong appeal for teens who will be attracted by the combination of clever text and exceptional illustrations."--VOYA
Synopsis
What should the vocabulary of a well-rounded high school graduate be like? These 100 words provide the starting point in answering that question. The list is representative of the words that serious students will encounter in their coursework and will come to use as adults, whether in conversation or while reading the daily newspaper. Each word is fully defined and shown in context with example sentences from well-known authors. 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know is a must-have for every grad, perfect for building vocabulary, quizzing friends and family and just having fun.
Synopsis
A classic gift book for ages 7 and up, this rich collection -- illustrated in full-color by Gareth Hinds and retold by professional storyteller Lise Lunge-Larsen --and#160; shows how the ancient myths from Greece rang so true and wise that the names of the characters have survived as words we now use every day.and#160; (A few examples are genius, tantalize, panic, muse, nemesis, fury, victory.and#160; No mythology has given English as many words as the Greek and Roman myths.) Not only imparting the subtle wisdom of these ancient tales, this slim book makes us understand the words more deeply.
Synopsis
Master storyteller Lise Lunge Larsen brings to life the ancient stories behind the enduring words the Greeks have given us. To be illustrated in full color.
About the Author
Folklorist, linguist, and professional storyteller, Lise Lunge Larsen draws upon her rich background in legends and myths to make these tales come alive.and#160; A children's book author, she has received many starred reviews and awards for her books.and#160;
Gareth Hinds has created illustrated versions of such classics as BEOWULF, KING LEAR, MERCHANT OF VENICE and most recently, THE ODYSSEY, forthcoming from Candlewick in fall 2010.and#160;and#160; As a recent interview with him (SLJ Teen 1/20/2010) said, "He stays faithful to the original text but uses art to illuminate the story and make it more accessible to the reader."and#160; A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, he lives in New York City with his wife, former children's bookseller, Alison Morris.and#160;