The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus Review by Dana G. Williams

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryant, Jen. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans Books for Young People, 2014. ISBN 9780802853851

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
An informational picture book on the extraordinary life of Peter Mark Roget who had the spirit of a scientific explorer and loved to classify the words he learned from his life experiences into an organized thesaurus for all.  

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Author Jen Bryant's collaboration with illustrator Melissa Sweet is a beautiful picture book on the life of and important contributions that Peter Mark Roget made in science, medicine, and informational organization. The book is a chronological account of Roget's life, and Bryant's clear and fluid writing makes it perfect for younger elementary aged students. Not only that but Roget's lifelong love of learning presents as a wonderful role model for children and adults alike. Bryant's research into his life reveals a smart, loving man with a desire to find "the right word."

Sweet's use of illustrations feel like a scrapbook and welcome young readers into Roget's life almost as an image-based timeline. Her artistry makes his classification system, extraordinary life experiences, and love for words stand out.

I have to admit that I never gave much thought to how the thesaurus came to be, and I've been using one since fourth grade. But I was surprised to learn how Roget's Thesaurus wasn't his great life achievement, instead it was a book created as a the result of his lifelong commitment to education and his accolades and successes in the fields of science and medicine. For example, Bryant's timeline of important dates and happenings in Roget's life is presented with other important world events. Her extra notes and sources teach readers how Roget wrote for Encyclopedia Brittanica and also wrote the first scientific paper on optical illusion. The extra access points will appeal to readers who want to know more than what the prose conveys. The bibliography, suggested readings, and sources back up Bryant's research, while the notes by the author and illustrator give important background into how and why the artists created this award-winning book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) and AWARDS
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Caldecott Honor Book 2015
CLSC Young Reader's Selection for 2015
Kirkus Prize Finalist 2014
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book 2015
School Library Journal Best Books 2014
Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2015-2016
ABC Best Books Catalog
Horn Book Magazine Best Books of 2014
Junior Library Guild Selection
SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustration

From Horn Book
"Bryant's linear telling follows Peter closely, expressing his curiosity, sensitivity, and populist spirit in language that is both decorous and warm." 

From Kirkus Review
"Bryant's prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. She goes gently, omitting Roget's darkest traumas...Exemplary back matter includes chronology, author's and illustrator's notes, selected bibliography, suggested reading, quotation sources, and a photograph of one of Roget's manuscript pages." 

5. CONNECTIONS
Other books by Jen Bryant:

• A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. ISBN 9780802853028
• Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille. ISBN 9780449813379
• A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippen. ISBN 9780375867125

Other books for early elementary school students to discover the power of lists and organizing information:

• Ash, Russell. Fantastic Book of 1001 Lists. ISBN 9780789434128
• Foresman, Scott. Roget's Children's Thesaurus. ISBN 9780673651372
• Thermes, Jennifer. Charles Darwin's Around-the-World Adventure. ISBN 9781419721205

By kindergarten, children start to learn that written words have power whether it's writing grocery lists or hall passes or birthday wish lists. In the case of Roget, he used his lists to collect and organize words because he loved them. In Darwin's case, he needs to record the scientific information he collected and his observations while traveling the world.

With younger elementary students creating a class list of favorite foods, chores to do, and books that they've read can show them how to create and organize mini databases on paper. In addition, older students who are independent writers might be interested in creating their own book of lists or putting together a vocabulary journal based on words they learn at school, in their every day lives, or from the books they are reading.