The words themselves have stories too.
Who dares to read? Who dares to look?
Who dares to hunt within this book?'
When twins Lexi and Al discover a strange old dictionary at the school library, they have to put aside their differences and work together for a change as they are drawn into the pages and find themselves travelling through time, hunting the origins of words.
Can Lexi and Al stay safe as they journey through history, finding clues in medieval forests, battlefields, a 19th century whaling ship and even the Empire of the Hittites in 1180BC? When they finally return home, will they be brave enough to open the pages of Walker & Fuller’s Curious Dictionary of English again and risk another dangerous and confusing journey through time?
Word Hunters: The Curious Dictionary is the first book in a new series for young readers by popular Australian author Nick Earls. Known for his YA and adult fiction, this is a new adventure for both Earls and the Word Hunters as they discover the story of our language.
An action-packed adventure story filled with humour, excitement and mysteries to solve, Word Hunters: The Curious Dictionary is sure to capture the imagination of children with an interest in history and language. Described as a ‘word nerd adventure’, the story winds through history showing how words evolve over time, such as tracking ‘hello’ back through time to ‘Ah, Rou’ in Rouen, France in 925.
A fantastic book for advanced younger readers looking for an extra challenge with age-appropriate content, the story is enhanced by illustrations by award-winning Australian art director, Terry Whidborne. For teachers’ notes or further information about the series and word hunting, visit the Word Hunters website.
Title: Word Hunters #1 - The Curious Dictionary
Author: Nick Earls
Illustrator: Terry Whidborne
Publisher: UQP, $14.95 RRP
Publication Date: 27 August 2012
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780702249457
For ages: 8 - 13 years
Type: Junior fiction
