Abracadabra to Zombie: More than 300 Wacky Word Origins by Don & Pam Wulffson
Citation: Wulffson, Don and Wulffson, Pam. Abracadabra to Zombie More than 300 Wacky Word Origins. Dutton Children's Books, 2003.
About: This is a book of hilarious etymologies. Tweens will laugh out loud literally when they read the origins of such words as lollipops, diaper, abracadabra, blockbuster, zombie, breakfast cereal, heebie-jeebies, and more. Hodgepodge originated after hotchpotch, which was a type of stew. A Tootsie Roll is called such because it had to be rolled by hand and the first person to try it was named Tootsie.
Review: I LOVED this book. I want to buy it and keep it forever. I find it to be hilariously interesting, and I think tweens would love to flip through it and get a laugh. There is a huge possibility that I am a geek that really enjoys etymology and reads the OED for funsies. However, I am sure that in middle school there are etymology geeks in the making, and this book is a fun way to get started. The book includes many modern pop culture references, it is informative, and fun. I think it should be a staple in a classroom with non-fiction fans who claim they have nothing to read during silent reading.
Age: 9 and up
Similar Titles:
The Boy Who Loved Words
Donovan's Word Jar
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