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Delores Thesaurus
Do big words suit me? Indubitably! Do they suit Delores? Look inside and see. Dolores loves collecting words! Come join her on an adventure that celebrates the joy of language. This light-hearted and word-driven picture book encourages readers to expand their vocabularies as they follow a charming Dolores on an endearing adventure.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2018
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 28, 2018
Delores Thesaurus by Jessica Lee Hutchings, illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla. PICTURE BOOK. Flowerpot Press, 2018. $17. 9781486714636
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Delores collects big words in a notebook and makes special journeys to be around adults so that she can hear the words they use. The only problem is that she doesn’t always know what the words mean. When her notebook is taken by a pelican, she shouts for help using her big words, but no one understands her. Finally she gets the brilliant advise to use a dictionary too.
This book is fun to read aloud because it tells a whole story with rhyme and rhythm. There is a a lot visually to look at on each page and the words she collects are probably new to most readers, but not beyond their ability to potentially use.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Delores collects big words in a notebook and makes special journeys to be around adults so that she can hear the words they use. The only problem is that she doesn’t always know what the words mean. When her notebook is taken by a pelican, she shouts for help using her big words, but no one understands her. Finally she gets the brilliant advise to use a dictionary too.
This book is fun to read aloud because it tells a whole story with rhyme and rhythm. There is a a lot visually to look at on each page and the words she collects are probably new to most readers, but not beyond their ability to potentially use.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
October 26, 2018
Why we chose this book:
A book about a kid who loves learning new words? Sounds like someone I know...
A review copy was provided by Flowerpot Press.
Mom's Review (V)
A funny tale of what might happen when you use the wrong words. Delores Thesaurus encourages expanding one's vocabulary genuinely.
Delores enjoys learning big words that adults use. She listens carefully throughout the day, writes down new terms, and asks her teacher about them the following day. This book follows her trip to town on the day a pelican suddenly seizes her bag. Unable to induce any nearby adults to help her, she decides that if she sounds more grownup, they will listen to her. What unfolds is a comedic chain of events where she uses words like "nefarious," "feeble," and "careen" without knowing what they mean; everyone is confused. One kind shopkeeper takes the time to listen to her and decipher Delores's message. Together they retrieve the bag from the bird. The shopkeeper explains to Delores why everyone was confused and offers her a dictionary. Delores is thrilled and calls herself Delores Dictionary at the end.
Included with the review copy was a pair of Delores glasses, which T immediately put on and wore everywhere for the next two days. He was interested in the book, but more interested in the glasses to start. After the novelty of the glasses wore off, he seemed to suddenly become enthusiastic about the book: "Can we read Delores Thesaurus with lunch?" "Let's read Delores Dictionary again." "Maybe we could sit down and read Delores Thesaurus." Although many of the Delores's new "grown-up" words were confusing to him at first, we discussed what they meant, and he found the story funny. He especially liked the pelican's antics - they continue in the background even after Delores has her briefcase back.
I, too, found the book funny, and I enjoyed introducing fun, new words to T. I also liked the moral: expand your vocabulary to enhance your communication skills, but do not use words without understanding them, lest you stymie your own endeavor. The illustrator includes many of Delores's new words in the illustrations, like in the bridal shop sign reading "Astound" in the background. And the end papers are Delores's thesaurus and dictionary notes. And it rhymes nicely, so it's easy to slip into an enjoyable sing-song. Between the illustrations, the storyline, the fun vocabulary, and the underlying encouragement to expand one's vocabulary organically, this is an all-out fun book!
Or, as Delores might say, this publication is tremendous indeed!
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 3 and 1/2 years)
While reading:
Mom: "...nefarious -"
Son, interrupting: What does that mean?
Mom: Villainous. I would say that Joker is nefarious. Whom would you describe as nefarious?
Son: Mr. Freeze!
________________________________
Mom: Do you think she knew the word "languid"? What do you think she wants to tell the grown-ups? And what do you think she wants them to do?
Son: No. That the pelican is eating it [the bag]. To stop the pelican.
After reading:
Mom: What did Delores learn about using big words?
Son: That she should explain what they mean.
Mom: How do you learn what big words mean?
Son: By reading books!
Mom: Who helps Delores?
Son: A shopkeeper.
Mom: What would you say to Delores if you could meet her?
Son: I would think that all of us could explore words. That's what I would think.
Mom: How would you explore words with her? Tell me more.
Son: I would just do that. I just would want to do that. You explore words by writing them off.
(I think he means writing them down.)
Mom: Where do you find the words?
Son: In different places. Like in the city.
Mom: When would it be a good time to read this book?
Son: When I don't understand a word.
Mom: If you could meet the author, what would you say to her? What would you ask her?
Son: That I really like it [the book]. That I really like the books that you write. I wouldn't have any questions.
Mom: Do you have any favorite words?
Son: Trick-or-treat!
Mom: What's the most important thing to know about this book?
Son: That it's about words.
Mom: What's your favorite part?
Son: Where the bird catches the pink attaché.
A book about a kid who loves learning new words? Sounds like someone I know...
A review copy was provided by Flowerpot Press.
Mom's Review (V)
A funny tale of what might happen when you use the wrong words. Delores Thesaurus encourages expanding one's vocabulary genuinely.
Delores enjoys learning big words that adults use. She listens carefully throughout the day, writes down new terms, and asks her teacher about them the following day. This book follows her trip to town on the day a pelican suddenly seizes her bag. Unable to induce any nearby adults to help her, she decides that if she sounds more grownup, they will listen to her. What unfolds is a comedic chain of events where she uses words like "nefarious," "feeble," and "careen" without knowing what they mean; everyone is confused. One kind shopkeeper takes the time to listen to her and decipher Delores's message. Together they retrieve the bag from the bird. The shopkeeper explains to Delores why everyone was confused and offers her a dictionary. Delores is thrilled and calls herself Delores Dictionary at the end.
Included with the review copy was a pair of Delores glasses, which T immediately put on and wore everywhere for the next two days. He was interested in the book, but more interested in the glasses to start. After the novelty of the glasses wore off, he seemed to suddenly become enthusiastic about the book: "Can we read Delores Thesaurus with lunch?" "Let's read Delores Dictionary again." "Maybe we could sit down and read Delores Thesaurus." Although many of the Delores's new "grown-up" words were confusing to him at first, we discussed what they meant, and he found the story funny. He especially liked the pelican's antics - they continue in the background even after Delores has her briefcase back.
I, too, found the book funny, and I enjoyed introducing fun, new words to T. I also liked the moral: expand your vocabulary to enhance your communication skills, but do not use words without understanding them, lest you stymie your own endeavor. The illustrator includes many of Delores's new words in the illustrations, like in the bridal shop sign reading "Astound" in the background. And the end papers are Delores's thesaurus and dictionary notes. And it rhymes nicely, so it's easy to slip into an enjoyable sing-song. Between the illustrations, the storyline, the fun vocabulary, and the underlying encouragement to expand one's vocabulary organically, this is an all-out fun book!
Or, as Delores might say, this publication is tremendous indeed!
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 3 and 1/2 years)
While reading:
Mom: "...nefarious -"
Son, interrupting: What does that mean?
Mom: Villainous. I would say that Joker is nefarious. Whom would you describe as nefarious?
Son: Mr. Freeze!
________________________________
Mom: Do you think she knew the word "languid"? What do you think she wants to tell the grown-ups? And what do you think she wants them to do?
Son: No. That the pelican is eating it [the bag]. To stop the pelican.
After reading:
Mom: What did Delores learn about using big words?
Son: That she should explain what they mean.
Mom: How do you learn what big words mean?
Son: By reading books!
Mom: Who helps Delores?
Son: A shopkeeper.
Mom: What would you say to Delores if you could meet her?
Son: I would think that all of us could explore words. That's what I would think.
Mom: How would you explore words with her? Tell me more.
Son: I would just do that. I just would want to do that. You explore words by writing them off.
(I think he means writing them down.)
Mom: Where do you find the words?
Son: In different places. Like in the city.
Mom: When would it be a good time to read this book?
Son: When I don't understand a word.
Mom: If you could meet the author, what would you say to her? What would you ask her?
Son: That I really like it [the book]. That I really like the books that you write. I wouldn't have any questions.
Mom: Do you have any favorite words?
Son: Trick-or-treat!
Mom: What's the most important thing to know about this book?
Son: That it's about words.
Mom: What's your favorite part?
Son: Where the bird catches the pink attaché.
September 8, 2018
Told in rhyming text, this story follows the adventures of a young girl who enjoys collecting interesting words. Not only does Delores hear new and fascinating words in the classroom, but she also wanders around town in search of them. After all, why say something in simple fashion when it's possible to choose another word that seems somehow more precise? But when a pelican swipes the case in which she's been collecting those words, Delores realizes that she doesn't understand the meaning of many of those words and when she uses them, no one can understand what she means. Fortunately for Delores, a kind woman comes to her aid and suggests that a dictionary might be of use in the future. The story made me smile with its absurdity but also since many youngsters make the same mistake Delores does, unable to choose the right word. The bright illustrations complement the text nicely, making this a possible read aloud or a suggested book for other word collectors just like Delores.
November 1, 2018
Dolores loves words and decides to collect the big words she hears adults using. When her notebook is taken by a pelican she realizes that it's more important to know the meaning of the words. This would be a great book for classroom discussion of how many words can mean the same thing, but the meaning of the word is just as important.
June 17, 2019
This one would be a solid follow-up to suggest for fans of Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor and Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier. In this case, precocious Delores collects new words to expand her "impressive lexicon". Quintannilla's illustrations are a good match for Hutchings' rhyming text.
Additional purchase for K-3.
Additional purchase for K-3.
November 2, 2018
This will definitely appeal to word nerds, but other kids may lose interest. The rhyme scheme is off for some couplets, which is distracting when reading it aloud.
November 13, 2018
A young girl with a love of language goes on an adventure collecting words.
December 2, 2018
Cute story, terrible rhyme and meter.
February 5, 2019
Appealing main character and her love for words. Primarily told with rhyming text, but places that don’t rhyme feel completely out of sync. Might be a good choice foe lessons on word choice.
December 7, 2020
“A DICTIONARY! Cried Delores. PRECISELY ESSENTIAL! Thank you so much! This is packed with potential!”
October 10, 2025
A cute picture book about a young girl who loves words.
July 23, 2019
4.5 loved this book! So cute and great for introducing the dictionary, synonyms, antonyms, understanding words and knowing their meaning. So fun.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews