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Introduction
The Dorling Kindersley Children’s Illustrated
Dictionary is specifically aimed at children of
seven years and up, an age when children are
becoming increasingly independent readers
and writers and when a dictionary can be
a valuable companion.
Words and pictures
Unlike many other dictionaries, The Children’s Illustrated
Dictionary is not just about words—it also contains pictures.
Children today are used to information being presented in
a visual form through television, movies, and computers, and
are skilled readers of images. As a result, they require books
to be increasingly visually sophisticated.
The colorful photographs and illustrations in this
dictionary are fresh, exciting, and highly relevant to
children’s interests and concerns. These images will help
to draw young readers into the book; they also work with
the text to give clear and concise definitions.
Vital skills for readers and writers
Using a dictionary can teach children many useful skills.
One of the most important is the ability to locate information
that is organized in alphabetical order. Once acquired, this
skill will enable them to use many other reference books,
from telephone directories to encyclopedias, that are
organized along the same principle. The clear design and
layout of this dictionary make it easy for children to learn
how to look things up.
The Children’s Illustrated Dictionary can also help to widen
vocabulary and improve spelling. Young readers and writers
can find out for themselves what an unfamiliar word means
or check any spellings about which they are unsure.
In addition, this book will help children develop their
awareness of words and the relationships between them.
An introductory section explains the concept of parts of
speech, such as nouns and verbs, that are also listed
under each entry in the dictionary. The final section looks
at word beginnings and endings, spelling patterns,
and common abbreviations.A dictionary with a difference
A unique feature of this dictionary is the 26 full-page
entries, where words and pictures are grouped by theme.
Browsing through these word
collections, on subjects as diverse as
costumes and time, children will enjoy
recognizing known words and concepts
and discovering new vocabulary and
information. These pages offer many
opportunities for discussion and
provide the basis for further exploration
of a wide range of topics and themes.A lasting work of reference
The Children’s Illustrated Dictionary combines a core of
common vocabulary with words that have a high interest
level for children of this age group. It provides them with
both a rich source of information about the world and
an important resource for developing their reading and
writing skills.