Option 1 - Tundra Books

August
Nonfiction
Say What?
The Weird and Mysterious Journey
of the English Language
Gena K. Gorrell
More than a million words, weird spellings, words that are
spelled the same but pronounced differently or vice versa. Where
on Earth did the English language come from? The answer is
that English isn’t just the speech of one nation. It’s the memory
of thousands of years of history. It tracks the places people came
from, the places they went, the adventures they had, the friends
and enemies they made, the battles they won and lost.
As English changed and grew, it became a jumble of sounds,
words, and rules from countless languages and nations. And it’s
still changing and growing every day. More than seventy percent
of all English words were born someplace other than England.
That’s why English can be so confusing and inconsistent. And
that’s why English is the richest, most international, and most
versatile language in the world.
This innovative book takes us on a journey through time to
unravel and demystify the story of English. Word games,
intriguing facts, and tricky quizzes add an element of fun while
enriching readers’ knowledge and understanding.
GENA K. GORRELL is one of Canada’s finest writers of nonfiction for
young people. She is also a highly respected editor. Her book Heart and
Soul: The Story of Florence Nightingale won the Norma Fleck Award for
Nonfiction. She has also been a first-aid instructor and a volunteer
officer in the Toronto Police Marine Unit. She lives in Toronto with
her husband and her dog.
PRAISE FOR WORKING LIKE A DOG:
“A thoroughly researched and captivating offering… The wellcaptioned…photographs
and reproductions add greatly to a narrative
that’s packed with intriguing details…” – School Library Journal
PRAISE FOR IN THELAND OF THE JAGUAR
“…every chapter is packed with highlights, descriptions, and poetry…
engaging prose encourages readers to peruse every page.”
– School Library Journal
© Dianna Last
978-0-88776-878-1
EAN: 9780887768781
US $10.95 / CAN $12.99
Juvenile NF – Language Arts
Ages 10-14 96 pages 7 x 9
Trade Paperback
Rights: World
24 carton JNF029000 JNF029040
On Sale: 8/11/2009
Also available by Gena K. Gorrell
In the Land of the Jaguar:
South America and Its People
Resource Links “The Year’s Best –2007”
978-0-88776-756-2
US $22.95/CAN $28.99
Catching Fire: The Story of Firefighting
Short-listed, Norma Fleck Award
Selected Books for the Teen Age List, NYPL
Our Choice Selection
978-0-88776-430-1
US $16.95/CAN $19.99
Heart and Soul:
The Story of Florence Nightingale
Winner of the 2001 Norma Fleck Award.
978-0-88776-703-6
US $11.95/CAN $16.99
Working Like a Dog: The Story of
Working Dogs through History
Winner of the 2003 ASPCA Henry Bergh
Award
978-0-88776-589-6
US $16.95/CAN $22.99
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