Bent Northrop Memorial Library

An alphabetical tour of the world of fruits and vegetables, from apricot and artichoke to yam and zucchini.

With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed...

A guide to good grammar, looking at the parts of speech and parts of the sentence; explaining how to avoid common errors; discussing punctuation; and considering some of the finer points of grammar.

In simple text and pictures, the author and illustrator create a compendium of small daily moments.

Turning the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, P is for Pterodactyl is perfect for anyone who has ever been stumped by silent letters or confused by absurd homophones. This whimsical, unique book takes silent letter entries like "K is for Knight" a step further with "The noble knight's knife nicked the knave's knee." Lively illustrations provide context clues, and alliterative words help readers navigate text like "a bright white gnat...

Asking questions may seem like it comes naturally, but it's actually a learned social skill. How do questions and answers work? What makes a good question--and what makes a rude one? Who cares about questions? This helpful how-to guide teaches kids what a question is, when to ask one, and how to form one. Friendly tips and pointers ("Keep it short!" "Show interest!") help kids keep their questions appropriate and on point. Above all, the book encourages...

A boy imagines the rare and wonderful fish he might catch in McElligot's pool.

Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, author McWhorter distills hundreds of years of lore into one lively history. Covering the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during...

Rhymed text and illustrations introduce the many different animals that live in the big red barn on the farm.