Most of us know that the month of August is named for
Augustus Caesar. But did you know that
July is also named for a Caesar: his uncle Julius. Stories behind the origins of words, idioms, and sayings are often
humorous and can give us a glimpse into the past. How many times have you uttered a well-worn
phrase to your children only to have them look at you uncomprehendingly? For the child who likes to come up with “Did you know …” at the dinner table, these
books could come in handy :
Where Words Come From is an informal history of words and
slang such as
bagel (from the same
German word
bouc that means bracelet)
and
bogus (from the West African word
boko that means fake coin) to
white
elephant (owned by the King of Siam) and
seventh inning stretch (begun by President Taft).
Guppies in Tuxedos provide the origins of common eponyms: words which evolved out of a name. We are all familiar with Xerox or Kleenex,
but did you know there was a Mr. Guppy and that tuxedos were first worn in
Tuxedo Park, New York? (whoops, I guess I am one of those ‘did you know’
types!)
When Blue Meant Yellow focuses on colors, from Shocking Pink
to Gunmetal Gray, and includes a color
chart of 191 various hues.
Sometimes it’s not the origin of the word or phrase that sticks
in your mind, it’s the use of the word.
Picture books and poetry allow authors creative opportunities to inventive uses of words. Since
Dr. Seuss revolutionized the learning to
read process with The Cat in the Hat, children have been read clever books that
revel in the spoken word, rhyming, punning and other kinds of word play. Read these books aloud for pun fun. They are gr8!
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1 comment:
Gorgeous!
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