I have always loved books about words. Just this past weekend, when looking through picture books, I pulled out several titles that I had initially intended to take to Goodwill, but ultimately couldn't part with because I wanted to use them with groups of students.
Antics by Cathi Hepworth is a book I've had since I started teaching (and at this point that is a long time ago). I can easily see challenging students to find words with "ant" in them: romantic, antler, lantern...you get the idea. So, I returned this book to the pile of books I am still keeping around.
And then, this morning, while I was driving to work I listed to Thoughts From A Page, one of my favorite bookish podcasts. Cindy just received a copy of this book, which is publishing in August. And once I heard the description, I ordered it for myself.
Even better, there is a podcast A Way With Words, hosted by Martha Barnette, that is now on my radar.
Synopsis taken from Amazon:
With warmth, a popular radio and podcast host shares her love of language, weaving together linguistic history, regional phrases, the hidden poetry in etymologies, new words, and stories from her life and time on the air
Martha Barnette has spent two decades as the co-host of A Way with Words, lauded by Mary Norris in The New Yorker as “a virtual treasure house” and “‘Car Talk’ for Lexiphiles.” Over that time, she’s developed a keen sense of what fascinates people about language. They are curious about etymology and revel in slang, are surprised by regional vocabulary and celebrate linguistic diversity. Idioms both puzzle and delight word lovers, and they are eager to share family neologisms and that weird phrase Grandma always used to say.
In Friends with Words, Barnette weaves together all these strands in a clear, informative, highly entertaining exploration of language. Chock-full of anecdotes, humorous asides, new words, trivia, and other lexicological delights, Friends with Words also tells Barnette’s story—from her Appalachian roots through her study of Ancient Greek, and on to the making of a beloved and enduring show. Friends with Words is an expert, good-humored, joyful book.
Coming out on August 5, I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Hey, Tina - Thanks for sharing the information about FRIENDS WITH WORDS! I hope you enjoy it. Also if you’re a regular listener to “A Way with Words,” you’ll know that my co-host Grant and I are both HUGE fans of libraries and librarians ! :)
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