The Dictionary Story

By Sam Winston, Oliver Jeffers

Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston

The much-anticipated new picture book from Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston, the bestselling and award-winning creators of A Child of Books.

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story just like the other books. So one day she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is, she thinks, that an adventure is finally happening on her very own pages! But what will she do when everything gets out of control, all in a jumble, and her characters collide causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! How on earth will she find sense in all this chaos? Her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.

Categories: Picture Books

For readers aged: 3+

  • Publication details:
  • Format: Hardback
  • ISBN: 9781406395471
  • Published: 01 Aug 2024
  • Price: £14.99
  •  
  • Size: 280 x 200 mm
  • Pages: 56

More to explore...

  • The-Dictionary-Story
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  • A-Child-of-Books

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Customer reviews

Reviews

'[…] intricate, playful picture-book collaboration, layered with whimsical dictionary definitions that slightly older readers will enjoy alongside the main story.' The Guardian

'A boundary-pushing ode to the wonder of language, Jeffers’s illustrations rip and bounce through actual dictionary entries thanks to Winston’s clever typography and design. Close reading really pays off: the dictionary entries are full of wit and mischief.' The Observer

'“An indefinably great picture book…Endlessly inventive and packed with hidden references, gags and more, this stunningly designed and highly giftable picture book reunites the creators of A Child of Books in the hilarious tale of a dictionary determined to tell her own story.”' Waterstones August’s Best Books

'The organised dictionary text that we all know so well interacts perfectly with the illustrations. Every word is intentionally placed to truly bring Dictionary’s wish of creating her own story to life. Readers will enjoy looking at all of the different definitions and the hidden messages surrounding the main story. A topsy-turvy story that is a delight to read!' Children's Books Ireland

'As Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston unite again, book lovers all over the world celebrate at the joy of another collaboration… Bursting with colour and Jeffers' recognisable illustrations, this book is an absolute joy. Set within the pages of a dictionary thanks to the clever typographic fine artist Sam Winston, we are taken on a journey of the life of words ever since "the first words were born inside our heads, where they wriggled around for a long time, before slowly crawling out of our mouths.” It's magnificent. It's ingenious. It's so original and so brilliantly executed. I know I will be buying this as a gift, again and again and again.' LoveReading4Kids

'Unique linguistic inspiration now forms the spine of a lyrical picture book created in collaboration with New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Oliver Jeffers. A call to kids and adults alike to create, to question, to explore, and to imagine, their magical project is intended to prompt young readers to ignite their love of language and discover where their words come from, and how we all have a story to tell.' Twin Magazine

'This is The Dictionary Story and it is marvellous. Incredibly intelligent (but then it is a dictionary), very funny, very clever, wide ranging appeal to both older children and adults alike plus some charming illustrations from Sam Winston who has even used excerpts from the dictionary on every page. This is a timeless story, a classic.' Armadillo Magazine

'Sam Winston’s comic pacing of the tale – a meta celebration of words – is superb. Superb too are Oliver Jeffers’s naive style illustrations showing the shenanigans of the characters. Totally immersive and brilliantly created right from the real dictionary shown at the front of the book. The more you read it the more delights you will discover, it’s a veritable wordy wonder.' Red Reading Hub

'August Favourites (Younger Readers), Featured' Books Ireland

'This is an enchanting book for younger readers getting to grips with the notion of the alphabet but book lovers of any age will be able to appreciate the fabulous inventive design and artistry that has gone into the production.' The Letterpress Project

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Hardback
£14.99

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