Cute, silly -- great for kids who love language and word origins. A dash of magic, travel, mystery -- feels a lot like magic treehouse in a good way. I hope this isn't unfair, because I love that the 3 kids who are mystery solving are a diverse crew, but I kind of wish the main character wasn't yet another white boy. ( )

I loved this book so much! Eddie is a curious little boy who is fascinated by words and how they came to be used the way they are today. His best friend MJ, lives next door. Meaning the two spend a lot of time together, even though their interests aren't always in alignment. One special day Eddie wonders about the word pajama's and where it comes from; Upon hearing the question Eddie's mother gives the pair a gift they never expected by suggesting they go find the biggest book full of words and their meaning and origin. Upon finding this book a wonderful entertaining and educational adventure begins.


Written for an early middle-grade audience, this book incorporates many illustrations with short chapters providing, newly confident readers can easily and confidently move from one part of the story to the next, drawn in by both the compelling text and the detailed visuals. Readers with an interest in travel, history, and language will dive headfirst into this riveting adventure.

Throughout the narrative, specific words are featured in bold text, indicating their inclusion in a glossary at the end of the book. There, readers will find a pronunciation guide, a definition of the word, and an explanation of where the word originated, which takes an entertaining book and turns it into a brilliant way of teaching children in a way that is fun for them.

With an eye catching cover, a great title, and the promise of adventure this book is sure to call to young readers and is sure to earn its place on every child, parent and teachers bookshelf..

Highly recommended! ( )