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The American Heritage Children's Dictionary
This award-winning book contains these essential features: • More than 13,000 main entries, fully updated for the twenty-first century • Hundreds of Word History, Language Detective, Vocabulary Builder, and Spelling notes • More than 1,000 full-color photographs and drawings • 26-page appendix including separate thesaurus, phonics and spelling, measurement, and geography sections
856 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 1986
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71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 16, 2013
When I was young I learned to be disappointed by children's dictionaries and encyclopedias. They are usually condescending in content and tone. For example, one of the key facts of English is the multi-faceted definition. This book only allows 2. I liked the fact that it includes 13000 words, but I don't know how the selections were made be cause there are no editorial notes about process anywhere on or in the book. Oh, the back cover does tell me there are 1500 photos and color illustrations, but nothing about what they decided to in/exclude by policy. Part of the charm of a dictionary is the odd words you encounter on the way to the one you are looking up, and really that is the main value of a print dictionary at all today--it has to offer better or more experience than looking up a word online. This kind of book is rapidly becoming dated, especially since it pares out so many of the words in a regular dictionary. Wasn't a fan before, even less now.
November 23, 2015
The American heritage children’s dictionary. (2010), Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Reviewed by: Kris Grimm
Reference Type: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
ISBN: 978-0-547-21255-5
Content/Scope: This dictionary is 885 pages and includes diagrams, illustrations, maps, photographs, and a glossary. It is written for students’ grades 3rd-6th.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: There have been over 2000 new terms added to this dictionary, including ethnic foods, medical vocabulary and educational terminology. American Heritage has a long history of creating high quality reference material.
Arrangement/Presentation: Similar to previous editions, this dictionary has a clean layout with notes on histories, synonyms, vocabulary and spelling alternatives included. Entries are highlighted in blue text. Pronunciation, parts of speech and definitions as well as plural forms and alternate spellings are included in the definition. There are 1500 images ranging from colorful photos to labeled diagrams.
Relation to similar works: This dictionary is similar to the set the library owns, but they were published in 1990. The new terminology and multi-cultural updates make a more current dictionary a better choice.
Accessibility/Diversity: The text is accessible to readers with ability levels ranging from 3-6th grade. It recognizes and includes ethnic terms and definitions.
Cost: $19.95
Professional Review: McGuire, B. The American heritage children’s dictionary (2009). Retrieved November 21, 2015 from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.libsrv.wku...
Reviewed by: Kris Grimm
Reference Type: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
ISBN: 978-0-547-21255-5
Content/Scope: This dictionary is 885 pages and includes diagrams, illustrations, maps, photographs, and a glossary. It is written for students’ grades 3rd-6th.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: There have been over 2000 new terms added to this dictionary, including ethnic foods, medical vocabulary and educational terminology. American Heritage has a long history of creating high quality reference material.
Arrangement/Presentation: Similar to previous editions, this dictionary has a clean layout with notes on histories, synonyms, vocabulary and spelling alternatives included. Entries are highlighted in blue text. Pronunciation, parts of speech and definitions as well as plural forms and alternate spellings are included in the definition. There are 1500 images ranging from colorful photos to labeled diagrams.
Relation to similar works: This dictionary is similar to the set the library owns, but they were published in 1990. The new terminology and multi-cultural updates make a more current dictionary a better choice.
Accessibility/Diversity: The text is accessible to readers with ability levels ranging from 3-6th grade. It recognizes and includes ethnic terms and definitions.
Cost: $19.95
Professional Review: McGuire, B. The American heritage children’s dictionary (2009). Retrieved November 21, 2015 from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.libsrv.wku...
April 16, 2016
The american heritage children's dictionary. 2015. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Citation By: Stephanie Ross
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
Content/Scope: This is a children's dictionary for grades 3-6. This updated edition contains 2000 additional new terms. The layout is well-organized with quality illustrations, and notes on word histories, synonyms, vocabulary, and spelling. There are 25,000 terms and over 1500 illustrations making this a comprehensive children's dictionary. Plural forms, verb forms, and variant spellings are listed.
Accuracy/Bias/Authority: American Heritage is a well-known and respected name in the children's reference industry. The publisher, Houghton Mifflin Company, is also well-known and established in the reference industry. The dictionary contains no sexist language or bias.
Arrangement/Presentation: Arrangement is alphabetical with many examples of the term used in sentences along with illustrations. Word histories and possible synonyms help students to understand the meaning of the terms in an easy-to-understand reading level. The back of the book contains supplementary material including a guide to phonics and grammar, a geographical dictionary, maps, and a table of measurements.
Relation to Other Works: There are other dictionaries for purchase. This dictionary is specifically geared to upper elementary grades and the learning needs they have.
Accessibility/Diversity: The easy to read text and illustrations help 3rd-5th graders understand terms and build knowledge in how to use them correctly. Many diverse terms are explained in this dictionary.
Cost: $17.56
Review: McGuire, B. (2009). The american heritage children's dictionary. School Library Journal, 55(12).
Citation By: Stephanie Ross
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
Content/Scope: This is a children's dictionary for grades 3-6. This updated edition contains 2000 additional new terms. The layout is well-organized with quality illustrations, and notes on word histories, synonyms, vocabulary, and spelling. There are 25,000 terms and over 1500 illustrations making this a comprehensive children's dictionary. Plural forms, verb forms, and variant spellings are listed.
Accuracy/Bias/Authority: American Heritage is a well-known and respected name in the children's reference industry. The publisher, Houghton Mifflin Company, is also well-known and established in the reference industry. The dictionary contains no sexist language or bias.
Arrangement/Presentation: Arrangement is alphabetical with many examples of the term used in sentences along with illustrations. Word histories and possible synonyms help students to understand the meaning of the terms in an easy-to-understand reading level. The back of the book contains supplementary material including a guide to phonics and grammar, a geographical dictionary, maps, and a table of measurements.
Relation to Other Works: There are other dictionaries for purchase. This dictionary is specifically geared to upper elementary grades and the learning needs they have.
Accessibility/Diversity: The easy to read text and illustrations help 3rd-5th graders understand terms and build knowledge in how to use them correctly. Many diverse terms are explained in this dictionary.
Cost: $17.56
Review: McGuire, B. (2009). The american heritage children's dictionary. School Library Journal, 55(12).
December 2, 2012
The American heritage children's dictionary. (2010). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Citation by: Elizabeth McCord
Type of reference: Dictionary
Call Number: JR423 Amer
Description: This children’s dictionary is target to student ages 8-11 with more than 13,000 entries that is updated for the 20th century. This dictionary includes an appendix with a separate thesaurus, phonics, and spelling sections.
Relevance and Relationship: This dictionary is edited by the American Heritage Dictionary, which have several adult dictionary. It is similar price range with other dictionaries.
Purpose: To aid students in finding definitions and to help basic library search skills.
Validity: This book has received numerous awards and is published by a well known company.
Format: This is a 2010 print edition with 864 pages of definitions and illustrations.
Arrangement and Presentation: The dictionary is arranged alphabetically. Included in the 864 pages are 13,000 main entries with more than 1,000 illustrations. The book also includes an appendix with a separate thesaurus, phonics, spelling, and measurement and geography section.
Diversity: The illustrations will help those struggling readers and those who are more of a visual learner.
Professional Review: McGuire, B. (2009). The American heritage children’s dictionary. School Library Journal, 55(12), 74.
Citation by: Elizabeth McCord
Type of reference: Dictionary
Call Number: JR423 Amer
Description: This children’s dictionary is target to student ages 8-11 with more than 13,000 entries that is updated for the 20th century. This dictionary includes an appendix with a separate thesaurus, phonics, and spelling sections.
Relevance and Relationship: This dictionary is edited by the American Heritage Dictionary, which have several adult dictionary. It is similar price range with other dictionaries.
Purpose: To aid students in finding definitions and to help basic library search skills.
Validity: This book has received numerous awards and is published by a well known company.
Format: This is a 2010 print edition with 864 pages of definitions and illustrations.
Arrangement and Presentation: The dictionary is arranged alphabetically. Included in the 864 pages are 13,000 main entries with more than 1,000 illustrations. The book also includes an appendix with a separate thesaurus, phonics, spelling, and measurement and geography section.
Diversity: The illustrations will help those struggling readers and those who are more of a visual learner.
Professional Review: McGuire, B. (2009). The American heritage children’s dictionary. School Library Journal, 55(12), 74.
Want to read
November 30, 2012The American heritage children’s dictionary. (2012). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Citation created by: Jordan Wade
Call Number: 423
Description: This dictionary has over 25,000 entries including thousands of new words. The entries cover all the vocabulary young readers need today. Special features include notes and an appendix with a geographical dictionary, a guide to phonics and spelling, and more.
Content/Scope: This dictionary is intended for ages 8-11 or grades 3-6.
Accuracy/Authority: This book is by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries which have published a vast amount of dictionaries.
Relation to Similar Works: Newly updated edition.
Cost: $19.95
Rationale for Selection: To aid intermediate elementary school students on researching in reference materials.
Professional Review: Although no reviews of the 2012 edition are available, an earlier 2009 edition was reviewed by the School Library Journal in December of 2009.
Citation created by: Jordan Wade
Call Number: 423
Description: This dictionary has over 25,000 entries including thousands of new words. The entries cover all the vocabulary young readers need today. Special features include notes and an appendix with a geographical dictionary, a guide to phonics and spelling, and more.
Content/Scope: This dictionary is intended for ages 8-11 or grades 3-6.
Accuracy/Authority: This book is by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries which have published a vast amount of dictionaries.
Relation to Similar Works: Newly updated edition.
Cost: $19.95
Rationale for Selection: To aid intermediate elementary school students on researching in reference materials.
Professional Review: Although no reviews of the 2012 edition are available, an earlier 2009 edition was reviewed by the School Library Journal in December of 2009.
May 28, 2016
Great dictionary for kids. My 12yr old gets a lot of use out of this. In addition each entry has a sentence, pronunciations etc...
September 7, 2012
used in the local school district for lower grade levels
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February 20, 2016A good one for our homeschool. -K
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews