Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever!

I wanted to get an older copy of this book and found one in good shape from the UK, (never giving a single thought to the vocabulary differences between our great countries!) now I am enjoying nappies instead of diapers, lorries instead of trucks, dust bins instead of wastebaskets and biscuits instead of cookies. Richard Scarry's books have a remarkable way of communicating with children, with comfortable characters and gentle humor he makes day to day life interesting and fun. The Best Word Book Ever is a wonderful vocabulary builder, but more than that it expands minds and encourages conversation.

This is the revised edition of the book. There are some notable differences between the two, some dubiously good (there are more females... but you can tell that because bows were stuck on their heads, so not exactly a gain for feminism) and some probably not (the vocabulary was watered down).

However, even with that in mind, this is an awesome book for the toddler and the early reader. There's labeled pictures of very close to everything under the sun, in categories, and there's extra text on each page asking questions or asking the child to identify subcategories (for example, on the page of small things the reader is asked which of those things are commonly put on a wall - a great way for mom to get some quiet time while kiddo pores show more over the book!) show less

great pictures with humor throughout, 1 Jan. 2011

Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Best Word Book Ever (Giant Little Golden Book) (Hardcover)
Had this as a pre schooler in 1960s and loved the pictures- ideal to look and discuss with your child even before he can read, little humourous touches everywhere. Bought copy recently for friend's child, and wanted to keep it! The rabbit in a chef's hat holding a frying pan on fire, labelled 'good cook'. The picture of the classroom where the text runs 'you can learn many things in school. Little Bear is learning how to find a lost glove'. Wonderful!!
Incidentally: be aware there are 2 editions to this book. I recently bought a copy for my granddaughter and was careful to get show more the older one (the cover shows mother in the kitchen on her own, rather than the politically correct couple sharing the chores.) Worth paying a bit more as it contains a number of sections that were cut from later version (flower garden etc). show less

Everything we loved about Richard Scarry as kids, with the added bonus of gender-bias correction (i.e. it now says "police officer" and shows a woman, rather than "policeman.")

Scarry creates a unique world with remarkable appeal for those who like furry creatures, moderately retro technology, and labelling. Count me in! -- but Scarry was never a great favorite of either Parker or Kelsey.

My favorite book from childhood, I can remember being in kindergarten and first grade and spending hours with this book. Dreaming of being a teacher, I utilized it with my dolls as I taught them. I also purchased the book for my own children. Many wonderful memories.

Tags: Picture Book, kids, words

Summary: A very colorful book that appeals to any child's liking. This book is such a great book to start your children out with when it comes to learning their ABC's and how to begin to sound words out. From start to finish, this book lacks nothing but the best in the creative department with the usage of characters to the vibrant colors.

Personal Reaction: This one of the first books I read to my son's LPS/Fort Sill CDC Pre-K class for his teacher Ms. Perry. I recently read this again for the full day pre-school class my daughter was in at GCDC (Ft. Sill, OK). My son's class more so understood and loved the book due to my way of explaining each word and sounded the letters out and then asking for them to show more sound it out with me or another sound the could make using that letter. My daughters class more so got a kick out of the faces and sounds I made.

Classroom Extensions: Best ways to extend this book out to your students or kids is to get them involved and at the beginning if each student knows their letter's, when it comes to that letter have them make a sound or noise that relates to the word shared. Getting kids involved in anyway weather it be by sounding words out by person, or giving them each a word to be responsible for when its their turn, or introducing colors and foods to the letters it all about participation and involvement. show less