The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant (2014) is a fun read. Peter Mark Roget wrote lists, so some of the narrative in this book appears in list form. The title page is accompanied by definitions in a sidebar. Five stages of Roget’s life appear as a list of portraits beside 23 words, for example, BORN, BABY, INFANT, TADPOLE, CHILD, YOUTH, LAD, YOUNGSTER…”, you get the idea. At age eight, Roget began his own book of lists. It grew as he envisioned a book with all the ideas in the world. Much later in life, Roget’s two children encouraged him to pursue his dream, and, in 1852, the first edition of his Thesaurus sold out. Melissa Sweet’s fabulous collages and mixed media illustrations keep the book in your hands to gaze at her complex designs. Back matter includes a list of events in Roget’s life and the time in which he lived. Delightful author and illustrator notes add a personal touch. There’s a bibliography, suggestions for further reading, sources, and even a page from Peter Mark Roget’s original publication.
