L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue [Hardcover]

Chronicle Books Staff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2008 | Grade Level: 5 and up

A is for apple? B is for ball? Humbug! Forget about that hackneyed gobbledygook. In this lexicon oflinguistic delights, word lovers of all ages will discover that A is for alley-oop, B is for brouhaha, and L is for, well, lollygag ! Packed with quirky illustrations, fun trivia, and lists within lists, this is one humdinger of a dictionary.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up—Budding and accomplished wordsmiths will delight in this specialized dictionary showcasing oft-overlooked gems of the English language. This omnibus opens with a plea to readers to help stem the tide of lost vocabulary, promising that "if you ever find yourself hornswoggled by the neighborhood rapscallion, you'll be able to look the diabolical rogue squarely in the eye, announce you'll no longer be a victim of his merciless machinations, and swagger away, leaving him flummoxed." Each definition is related with humor, sometimes including word origination and listing equally interesting synonyms. Prominent writers with the "gift of gab" are featured throughout, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Edward Gorey, and others. Black-and-white engravings juxtaposed with cartoons in Picassoesque profile give an old-fashioned yet offbeat air to this unusual compendium. The stylish design invites browsing while also emphasizing meaning; the word "behemoth" towers above the other text while the letters in "discombobulated" are unaligned. Put this hunky-dory title into the hands of curiosity-lovers and anyone looking to spice up his or her writing.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811860213
• ISBN-13: 978-0811860215
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #454,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great gift, April 24, 2008

By 

Queen of the Harpies "Queen Harpy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue (Hardcover)

I got this book as a gift from a friend today. She's a word nut like me, I love weird and unusual words. The words in the book will add color to your vocabulary or simply remind of some of the rarer words you've heard. It will make you laugh out loud saying some of them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tally Ho!, February 27, 2009

By 

Andrew Shaffer "Author, Blogger" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue (Hardcover)

"L is for Lollygag" is simply a fun book. It's a quick read, but one that you'll want to re-read immediately. It was released by Chronicle Kids, but adults will find it entertaining as well--I know I did! While I knew most of the words it covered, it's a good reference for when you're looking for that perfect 19th century turn of phrase.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Way Fun!, October 12, 2008

By 

Korey Cantrell "Very Opinionated" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue (Hardcover)

I bought this book as a gift for someone; when I got it, I flipped through it to check it out and now I want one for myself! Neat little facts, tid-bits, good variety of words, lay-out of book is even fun. Definately reccomend this book!