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Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the Word Hardcover – Illustrated, April 14, 2020

by Paul Fleischman (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Are you a word person? A curiosity seeker? An explorer? Take a look at these twenty-six extraordinary individuals for whom love of language is an extreme sport.

Step right up and read the genuine stories of writers so intoxicated by the shapes and sound of language that they collected, dissected, and constructed verbal wonders of the most extraordinary kind. Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoirs by blinking his left eyelid, unable to move the rest of his body. Frederic Cassidy was obsessed with the language of place, and after posing hundreds of questions to folks all over the United States, amassed (among other things) 176 words for dust bunnies. Georges Perec wrote a novel without using the letter e (so well that at least one reviewer didn’t notice its absence), then followed with a novella in which e was the only vowel. A love letter to all those who love words, language, writing, writers, and stories, Alphamaniacs is a stunningly illustrated collection of mini-biographies about the most daring and peculiar of writers and their audacious, courageous, temerarious way with words.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 17 years
  2. Print length
    160 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 9
  5. Lexile measure
    890L
  6. Dimensions
    7.44 x 0.72 x 9.31 inches
  7. Publisher
    Candlewick Studio
  8. Publication date
    April 14, 2020
  9. ISBN-10
    076369066X
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0763690663
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The ebullient charms both of Fleischman's breezy accounts and of the work of those profiled are considerable...for anyone who enjoys words, or books themselves, there's much to love here in the catalog of serious and silly ways in which language and letters have been deployed, reworked, analyzed, and improved on. The backmatter includes source notes and a list of resources for "Further Entertainment." Marvelously diverting.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Thoughtful design elements extend into the back matter, where stylish alphabet blocks set off sources and bibliographic notes. Roaming today’s school hallways are tomorrow’s philologists, and the Alphamaniacs may be just the Dream Team to inspire them.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Each individual is given a brief chapter recounting their word-related exploits, interleaved with colorful, collaged illustrations by Sweet that look like stray pages from an artist’s overstuffed sketchbook, incorporating relevant quotes and amplifying Fleischman’s themes of abundance and possibility. A unique amalgam, one that will charm many.
—Publishers Weekly

The stories...are told in a playful, conversational style, supplemented by Sweet’s gorgeous mixed- media illustrations that, along with an attractive layout and high-quality paper, result in a beautiful object of a book...an alluring gift for dedicated word nerds.
—Booklist

It’s a quirky little gift to word lovers...The book is colorful and lavish with drawings, paintings, and prints. The wit and joy that went into the creation of this title is evident.
—School Library Connection

In an age driven by images, this book is an anomaly. Its audience is language lovers. Even though Fleischman’s gushing writing style gets in the way of his own love for the subject, the book has unusual appeal and is beautifully produced.
—School Library Journal

About the Author

Paul Fleischman is the author of many books for children, including the Newbery Medal–winning Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. With Candlewick Press, he is the author of Weslandia, The Dunderheads, The Matchbox Diary, and Eyes Wide Open. He lives in Monterey, California.

Melissa Sweet has illustrated nearly one hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Honor books The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus and A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. With Candlewick, she is the illustrator of Baabwaa and Wooliam and Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems. Melissa Sweet lives in Rockport, Maine.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick Studio; Illustrated edition (April 14, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 076369066X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763690663
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 890L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.44 x 0.72 x 9.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Paul Fleischman

    Paul Fleischman

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    Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California, the son of children's book author Sid Fleischman. Drawing on history, music, art, and theater, his books have often experimented with multiple viewpoints and performance. He received the Newbery Medal in 1989 for JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, a Newbery Honor Award for GRAVEN IMAGES, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for BULL RUN, and was a National Book Award finalist for BREAKOUT. He lives on the central coast of California.

    For more information, visit paulfleischman.net.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Melissa Sweet

    Melissa Sweet

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Melissa Sweet is a New York Times bestselling author and has illustrated nearly 100 children’s books. Her work ranges from board books to picture books and nonfiction titles and her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, and for eeBoo Toys. She has received numerous awards including the Sibert Medal, NCTE's Orbis Pictus Award, as well as two Caldecott Honor awards: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, and The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus, both by Jen Bryant.

    Sweet has written and illustrated four books: The New York Times Best Illustrated Carmine: A Little More Red; Tupelo Rides the Rails; The Sibert Award Winner Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade; and Some Writer! The Story of E.B.White.

    Her newest book is How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander, (June, 2019).

    Melissa lives with her husband and dogs in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit www.melissasweet.net.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Artfully and deeply fact filled history of English words and alphabet.
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
Who knew? History of people obsessed (actually and understated word description in this case) with words and alphabets and math and documenting varied uses and new-to-you words. Fun, very fun read.
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Always Be Dancing
5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of mini-bios of daring linguists is awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, wacky and wonderful.
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2020
This is a Junior Library Guild award winner, and I can see why! This collection of mini-biographies of daring linguists who saw language through shapes and sound and then dissected and reconstructed it into awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, wacky and wonderful verbal curiosities of the most marvelous kind. These creators took nothing at face value-instead they were able to see language on many planes.I am inspired by the sheer creativity and found each story so interesting. This is the perfect book for a budding linguist or coder! This is nonfiction for the junior and mid grade reader that is delivered in a very creative and engaging way.I so appreciate the great variety of words used-it was really run rolling them off my tongue, and I enjoyed the interesting illustrations and the diverse fonts.
One person found this helpful
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Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Love this writer and used many of his children’s books in teaching.
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
The book looks intriguing, but even with my kindle or ipad I have trouble reading it. Wish I knew a magic button to push and make reading it easier. The appearance is perfect. No, I’m keeping it, but it’s mostly my eyes and tiny print. I may resort to using the magnifying glass. Any suggestions?
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Flannery Fitch
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun journey through the world of the word obsessed
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020
I loved this clever and playful journey through various bibliophiles and the language obsessed. I'm hard pressed to find a favorite individual profiled within, because they're all fascinating - from the inventor of the Klingon language to the quest to make the world's tiniest book. The art is wild and works with the circus master's narration. Fleischman's writing is witty and wry, and balances informative and entertaining. This is a great book for anyone who love words, from child to adult!
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