A Student’s Dictionary & Gazetteer
Book Review
By
John H. Manhold
A Student’s Dictionary & Gazetteer ISBN 0-9771777-9-3, paperback, 524 pages. Published by The Dictionary Project Inc., Sullivan’s Island (Charleston), SC.
I recently received a copy of this dictionary to review, and found it to be a book that would seem to fulfill a great need, especially in this day when teachers, parents, and numerous authorities in education are bemoaning the fact that “today’s children do not want to read”. The book is intended to be presented to children in the 3rd grade when their training in use of words begins in earnest. It provides the parts of speech, the elements of pronunciation, a guide to use, and a useable dictionary. Then, it moves beyond a typical dictionary and provides material that is almost indispensible for the growing child – a short history of the American Flag, a Civics Lesson, Roman Numerals, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution, along with biographies of the U. S. Presidents.
More material is included that not only is essential for the growing child, but will serve them well as a quick reference in their adult years. There are tables of Weights and Measures, a list of the 50 States, with particulars about size, population, capital, date of statehood, flower, motto, tree, bird and even song. There are maps of the world and its components, along with basic facts and about individual countries, and even of the planets. There also are copies of the Muslim, Gregorian, and Hebrew Calendars, the American Manual Alphabet (Sign Language) and a table showing the Braille symbols.
According to the project’s web page, www.TheDictionaryProject.com the organization is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization whose goal “is to assist all students in completing their school years as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing them with their own dictionary.” The books are purchased in quantity by funds donated by numerous civic groups, and ninety-five cents of every dollar donated actually is used toward their purchase.
Mary French, of Charleston, SC, a former school secretary, began the program in the ‘90’s , because “she wanted to help the children in the poor and rural areas”. She obtained donations and a publisher at a discount. When the first supply was discontinued, she wrote her own book. She now is known as “The Dictionary Lady” with 1.5 million books donated to children in all 50 states. For an example, Dr Richard Geyer states that close to 95% of all 3rd graders in the State of Arizona already have received a copy.
All things considered, this project would seem to be a most worthy one that just might be helpful in aiding a turn around in the downward spiral of children’s reading and the demise of books and reading as we know it.
