The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus

 The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus

Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014. THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780802853851

Plot Summary

The Right Word introduces the readers to Peter Roget, who created the most well known thesaurus. Jen Bryant describes his childhood and how his love of making lists led him to making lists of words that have similar meanings so that people can find "the right word" to use. Paired with Melissa Sweet's unique and eye-catching illustrations, this book shows children an important figure in literature, one they wouldn't expect.

Critical Analysis

Caldecott Honor Book, The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus, is a simple yet creative approach to sharing the life of Peter Roget with children.

Jen Bryant has done a great job of accurately depicting Roget's life, especially his younger years and how he began creating lists at a young age. This attention to detail and sticking to fact will help children to know the correct history of the man. Bryant organizes this book chronologically, starting at the beginning of Roget's life and going until he is an adult. Putting this story in that sequence makes the book easy for kids to follow. While this is a nonfiction book, Bryant adds her voice, making the language colorful and sprinkling in some imagery ("Peter carried this idea with him like a secret treasure"). 

What really helps to elevate this story is Melissa Sweet's unique art style. Colors fill the pages, with many different varieties of illustration. There are the simple, light illustrations of people and the big, popping thesaurus words. It's almost like we have stepped into the mind or notebook of Mr. Roget himself, which really draws the reader into the book. We can see his imagination and thought process. We can connect with him.

This is a great nonfiction book that doesn't read like a list of facts but is filled with whimsy, color, and heart.

Review Excerpts

Caldecott Honor Book 2015

Horn Book Guide Starred: "Apt language and ingenious imagery combine to tell the life story of Peter Mark Roget, creator of the thesaurus. Bryant's linear telling follows Peter closely, expressing his curiosity, sensitivity, and populist spirit in language both decorous and warm. Clever book design and visionary illustration add layers of meaning. Sweet embellishes her own gentle watercolors with all manner of clippings and realia."

New York Times- Notable Children's Books of 2014

Connections

More by Jen Bryant: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

                                 Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

                                Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light

More Illustrated by Melissa Sweet: Moonlight the Halloween Cat by Cynthia Rylant

                                                         Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya

                                                        Spike, the Mixed Up Monster by Susan Hood

Activity: Students consider the cultural representation in the text with a Venn diagram.