The Dictionary Story

Prior collaborators Jeffers and Winston used type as a dynamic visual element in A Child of Books, and it takes center stage too in this title--a quick-moving tale about a dictionary, "never quite sure of herself" among other books' clear arcs. When the dictionary resolves to "bring her words to life," an alligator promptly pushes two columns of A definitions apart like curtains and bursts theatrically onto the page. Alligator takes off, crossing left to right over arrayed definitions, tripping over illustrated Cloud, and "smelling something Delicious on the D pages." Donut, anxious not to be eaten, accidentally rolls into Ghost, then plunges onward, startling Moon, who's "surprised to see two words from the start of the dictionary." The work features the leaves of a real dictionary within its own narrative spreads, setting up pleasing tension between unruly cartooned dictionary denizens and lines of crisp type, which droop and slide alarmingly under the characters' pressure. Chaos ensues between the beings, until the dictionary manages to put her pages in order again. It's a careful-what-you-wish-for story whose meta conceit and comic pacing would tickle any lexicographer. Ages 3-7. Agent: Paul Moreton, Bell Lomax Moreton. (Aug.)

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With hijinks and hilarity hidden on every page, this is a sweet, strange, wordy tale bound to delight all who pick it up.

A marvelously creative endeavor. . . . Equally successful on varying levels, a young child would enjoy the humor of the characters' adventures, while older readers and adults can delve into the rich details of the dictionary pages themselves.

Oliver Jeffers is one of the most recognizable and innovative creators in children's literature today, and The Dictionary Story showcases his vivid imagination at work in yet another collaboration with the wildly inventive Sam Winston. A masterful combination of the simple and the complex, this book is sure to be a favorite.
—BookPage (Starred Review)

Wordplay abounds in the delightfully madcap and meta The Dictionary Story by the first-rate duo behind A Child of Books. . . . The authors' imaginative humor shines in text-heavy dictionary pages punctuated by the appearance of the alphabet-inspired creatures, illustrated in Jeffers's distinctive naïve style. . . .The joy is in the details in this story meant for misfits (like Ms. Dictionary herself): readers who take their time turning the pages will find gifts in the tiny print. . . . This playful celebration of language is sure to delight word lovers of all ages.
—Shelf Awareness

Ambitious, imaginative, and incredibly detailed. It's about a dictionary who longs to tell a story like the other books on the shelf. So she decides to use some of her words for a story, but the words get a little out of hand and cause much chaos. Beyond the main story, the background illustrations of her pages show funny word definitions. There's so much detail. It's a longer-than-average picture book, and possibly my favorite by Jeffers so far. It's sure to get lots of laughs.
—The Kids Are All Right

This stunning work of art in book form invites readers to return again and again to enjoy its humor and beauty.
—Daily Press

"This unique picture book upends the nature of a dictionary — words in alphabetical order — when Dictionary decides she wants to not just be a list but tell a story. Be careful what you wish for. The Dictionary Story is absurd, surreal, hilarious, and utterly charming. Kids will enjoy the humor, the illustrations, the mayhem, and they'll relate to the singalong solution Dictionary comes up with to get things back in order."
—Common Sense Media