The Word Snoop

The Word Snoop
Ursula Dubosarsky
Tohby Riddle, Illustrator
Dial, 2009 246 pages
Grades 3-8
Non-Fiction

Dubosarsky offers a fascinating look at etymology (the origin of words and language). We all struggle with the weird spelling and grammatical rules of the English language. The Word Snoop illustrates why we write the way we do and where the crazy rules came from. The book begins with a timeline and ends with a glossary of terms. Topics include the history of language, moving into, specifically, the English language, the origins of certain words and spellings, punctuation, figures of speech, word games, and other written ways to communicate. Every chapter ends with a different coded message. The end of the book offers an explanation behind the different codes, yet never reveals the actual secret message.

Cleverly written and designed with generous illustrations sprinkled throughout, The Word Snoop is an entertaining while educational read. I read this book at the insistence of one of my book club kids, who said it was the best book she has ever read. Once hearing this high praise, I knew I had to read it myself. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. There are many things about the English language I have not fully understood and question, still others I just take for granted. Dubosarsky explains the "why" of a lot of weird English idiosyncrasies, offering both the grammatical rule and the origin behind it. This is not a book for everyone, yet after reading it I became as excited as my young reader to pass it onto someone else. Perfect for smart kids who always wonder, The Word Snoop will scratch an itch they didn't even know they had. This book will find an obvious place within a school or classroom library, yet will also be enjoyed recreationally at home with careful handseling or placement around the house. The very end of the book, as the author explores "text speak" and the use of "Smileys" (the precursor to emoji’s), is already a little dated, which just goes to show how quickly language changes and how organic it truly is. Lots of fun, while solving some of life's mysteries such as, "why DOES the word "knife" start with a "K"?