L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue
Grade 6 Up—Budding and accomplished wordsmiths will delight in this specialized dictionary showcasing oft-overlooked gems of the English language. This omnibus opens with a plea to readers to help stem the tide of lost vocabulary, promising that "if you ever find yourself hornswoggled by the neighborhood rapscallion, you'll be able to look the diabolical rogue squarely in the eye, announce you'll no longer be a victim of his merciless machinations, and swagger away, leaving him flummoxed." Each definition is related with humor, sometimes including word origination and listing equally interesting synonyms. Prominent writers with the "gift of gab" are featured throughout, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Edward Gorey, and others. Black-and-white engravings juxtaposed with cartoons in Picassoesque profile give an old-fashioned yet offbeat air to this unusual compendium. The stylish design invites browsing while also emphasizing meaning; the word "behemoth" towers above the other text while the letters in "discombobulated" are unaligned. Put this hunky-dory title into the hands of curiosity-lovers and anyone looking to spice up his or her writing.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.