***FIVE STARRED REVIEWS*** Caldecott Honor Winner Sibert Medal Winner School Library Journal  Best Books of the Year Kirkus  Best of 2014 Publishers Weekly  Best Books  Horn Book  Fanfare  Huffington Post Best Picture Books of the Year: Best Biography (Non-Artist) New York Times  Notable Children's Books  Booklist  Editors' Choice: Books for Youth Award-winning author Jen Bryant and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet tell the captivating story of the Thesaurus and its inventor Peter Mark Roget. Words, Peter learned, were powerful things. And when he put them in long, neat rows, he felt as if the world itself clicked into order. For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions ― and it wasn't long before Peter began writing his own book. But he didn't write stories; he wrote lists. Peter took his love for words and used it to organize his ideas and find exactly the right word to express just what he thought. His lists grew and grew, eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time. The Right Word is an inviting, visually engrossing portrayal of Peter Mark Roget and the creation of the thesaurus. Jen Bryant’s lyrical text and brilliantly detailed mixed media illustrations from Caldecott Honor-winning artist Melissa Sweet celebrate the joy of learning and the power of words. Other honors Parents' Choice Foundation  Parents’ Choice Award Gold Winner  ALA  Notable Children’s Books  Junior Library Guild Selection Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature  Finalist Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People   Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators  Golden Kite Award National Council of Teachers of English  Orbis Pictus Honor Bank Street College  Best Children's Books of the Year Gr 2–5—Those who have relied upon a thesaurus (meaning treasure house in Greek), either in print or through the tool menu of word processing software, will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget. Bryant describes bibliophile Roget, taking him from a timid, studious child who was always compiling lists to an accomplished doctor who by 1805 had compiled the beginnings of the first thesaurus. Busy and exuberant, Sweet's charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget's passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery (Latin translations of animal names, mathematical terms, and a plethora of synonyms). Expertly researched and well written, Bryant's narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man: his shy nature, his keen intelligence, and his passion for knowledge. There truly was a particular blend of artistry and intellect that went into Roget's book, as evidenced from a reproduced page from the original thesaurus. The book contains extensive back matter, including an incredibly detailed time line that goes into the man's other inventions (the slide rule, the pocket chess set) and an author and illustrator's note, as well as Roget quotations that are sure to inspire if not a love of language then at least a search for the perfect turn of phrase. An excellent illustrated biography.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library -- Publishers Weekly (STARRED Review) "Sweet envisions Roget's work as a shadow box crammed with the wonders of the natural world, adorned with exuberant hand-lettered typography. Together with Bryant's sympathetic account, Sweet's gentle riot of images and words humanizes the man behind this ubiquitous reference work and demystifies the thesaurus itself." -- Kirkus Reviews (STARRED Review) Bryant's prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. . . . Sweet tops herself -- again! -- visually reflecting Roget's wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment. Injecting her watercolor palette with shots of teal, scarlet and fuchsia, Sweet embeds vintage bits (ledger paper, type drawers, botanical illustrations and more), creating a teeming, contemplative, playfully celebratory opus. In a word: marvelous!" -- Booklist (STARRED review) "In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words." -- School Library Journal (STARRED review) “Those who have relied upon a thesaurus . . . will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget. . . . Busy and exuberant, Sweet’s charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget’s passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery. . . . Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it als