Jolly Dictionary w/ Print Letters

True to its name, the Jolly Dictionary tries to be both fun and useful for children. Jolly phonics characters (Inky and friends) adorn the cover, playfully perusing a Jolly Dictionary. Vivid colors mark open page edges to divide the dictionary into quarters, giving children a starting point in their search. Inside, each page has the entire alphabet (color-coded to correspond to sections) across the top to remind them about alphabetical order when searching for a word. So, once children turn to a colored section, they can look at the guide letters and then check above for whether to look before or after that page. A helpful "All About the Dictionary" section is a mini-course in dictionary usage as well as containing specifics on Jolly Dictionary conventions. Included here are pages on dictionary usage, identification of parts of entries, definitions and color-coding for parts of speech, plus a guide showing the spelling and sound of pronunciation symbols. Thematic picture pages at the front of the dictionary provide immediate access to words and spelling for numbers (including ordinals), colors, shapes, months, days of week, seasons, continents and oceans, insects, fruits and vegetables, selected zoo animals, and parts of the body.

These are followed by over 6,000 entries written at a child's reading and interest level. Many are accompanied by a colorful illustration but not to the extent of a picture dictionary. Word pronunciations are written in italics with stressed syllables bolded rather than scored. Unique to this dictionary are the color-coded identification of the word function (Adjective, Noun, Adverb, Preposition, etc.) and the special marking of tricky or irregular verb forms, plurals, and comparative/superlatives. While also a nice complement to the Jolly Phonics program, this "jolly" dictionary stands well on its own. 340 pgs.