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The Dictionary Story

Oliver Jeffers Sam Winston

$24.99

Hardback

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English
Walker Books
04 September 2024

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Dictionary has all the words but no story to tell, like the other books. So she decides it's time to start a tale, but Alligator has different ideas. As it chases a Donut through the pages and other words are involved, chaos is created when Tornado enters the picture! Luckily Dictionary has a friend who can help restore order, and she can let other books use her words to tell their stories.

A witty and joyful story with lots of in-jokes (check out the end papers) and wordplay, with illustrations that are attractive and detailed. Lindy

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.
By:   ,
Imprint:   Walker Books
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 289mm,  Width: 209mm,  Spine: 7mm
Weight:   540g
ISBN:   9781406395471
ISBN 10:   1406395471
Pages:   56
Publication Date:  
Recommended Age:   From 3 to 7 years
Audience:   Children/juvenile ,  English as a second language
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Oliver Jeffers is an artist whose work ranges from figurative painting and installation to illustration. His picture books include Lost and Found, How to Catch a Star, This Moose Belongs to Me and The Day the Crayons Quit, all of which have been translated into over 30 languages worldwide. Oliver's talent has been recognized by several high-profile awards, including the Irish Book of the Year and the Blue Peter Book of the Year; as well as shortlists for the British Book of the Year, the Roald Dahl Prize and the Kate Greenaway Medal. He was winner of Time Magazine’s Best Book of the Year for Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, and awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to the arts. Find him online at oliverjeffers.com and on Twitter and Instagram as @OliverJeffers. Sam Winston is a fine artist who exhibits internationally and whose books can be found in many special collections worldwide, including New York's Museum of Modern Art, the Getty Research Institute, the Tate Gallery London, and the V&A Museum. His work is also collected by the Library of Congress and commissioned by The New York Times. He is also the author and illustrator of One & Everything. Find him online at samwinston.com and on Instagram as @samwinston.

Reviews for The Dictionary Story

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Dictionary has all the words but no story to tell, like the other books. So she decides it's time to start a tale, but Alligator has different ideas. As it chases a Donut through the pages and other words are involved, chaos is created when Tornado enters the picture! Luckily Dictionary has a friend who can help restore order, and she can let other books use her words to tell their stories.

A witty and joyful story with lots of in-jokes (check out the end papers) and wordplay, with illustrations that are attractive and detailed. Lindy





[…] 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 * From the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek end pages, Winston’s clever design shines[…] A vibrant fusion of picture book and art piece, this book is an ode to the wonder of language. With its gift-worthy design and inventive layout, it’s perfect for readers young and old who relish hidden gems and the playful interplay between words and pictures. In the end, Jeffers and Winston leave readers with a story that is bound to be revisited, each time offering a fresh look at the art of storytelling. * Books for Keeps *


  • Long-listed for The Carnegie Medal 2025 (UK)
  • Nominated for The Carnegie Medal 2025 (UK)
  • Short-listed for KPMG Children's Books Ireland Award 2025 (UK)

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