Absurd Words written by Tara Lazar; Sourcebooks eXplore/Sourcebooks Kids, 2022.

Colorful, humorous, at times zany, and chock-full of useful information, Absurd Words is an engaging, lively reference book that’s certain to garner interest and enthusiasm in building vocabulary. Tara Lazar has added a heaping spoonful of sugar to vocabulary study.

Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

Acquiring a wider vocabulary bolsters confidence. Research shows that academic success is linked to possessing a robust vocabulary.  As Tara points out in the introduction to Absurd Words, “knowing a wide range of words means you can always say exactly, precisely what you mean. You’re feeling extremely happy, but ‘happy’ just doesn’t cut it—instead say you’re cock-a-hoop!” With this book, kids will “level up” their language and be extremely cock-a-hoop to be on their way to becoming word nerds!

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: 3-6+

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Connection, creativity, curiosity, effort, empowerment, encouragement, inspiration, perspective, resourcefulness, self-assurance, understanding

Content Area Connections: English Language Arts

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Become familiar with the various elements of this packed resource so you can draw upon it to interest and motivate students at opportune moments. The words are organized into themes, allowing ready accessibility.

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

Choose a theme from the book. Ask students to write an essay on the theme. Once complete, have students revise, using the book to “level up” their language.

Explore the Roots sidebars throughout the book. Ask students to illustrate one that catches their interest and provide a caption. Post the Roots around the classroom or in the hallway.

Ask students to write a story in which they use words from the “Once Upon A Time” chapter and also create one or two new words that fit the tale.

Place words from the book on index cards. Have teams arrange the words in categories according to their meanings. Next, ask each team to choose a category and team-write a story using those words.

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

Selected poetry books that pair well with Absurd Words:

• In the Land of Words: New and Selected Poems by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
• Well Defined: Vocabulary in Rhyme by Michael Salinger, illustrated by Sam Henderson
• Wonderful Words poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Karen Barbour
• Write! Write! Write! by Amy VanDerwater, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke (See Children’s Book Corner post with interview and resources.)

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Periodically check Tara’s website. She has created an educator guide for Absurd Words that will be posted soon. Included are writing prompts, fun quizzes, and games. Tara reveals that her favorite is “Stump The Adult.”

Related Books of Interest

Following is a list of recommended books celebrating words and those whose celebrate words:

• Lives of the Writers by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
• The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary by Sue Young
• Some Writers! The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet
• W Is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary by Tracey Fern, illustrated by Boris Kulikov
• A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
• Walt Whitman: Words for America by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Brian Selznick
• Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk by Jane Sutcliffe, illustrated by John Shelley
• Word Builder by Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
• The Wordy Book by Julie Paschkis
• Worser by Jennifer Ziegler middle grade novel

Meet the Author

Tara Lazar (pronounced TAR a    la ZAR Last name rhymes with bazaar.)

A street magic performer. Hog-calling champion. Award-winning ice sculptor. These are all things Tara Lazar has never been. Instead, she writes quirky, humorous picture books where anything is possible. Tara is the co-chair of the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature 1-on-1 Plus Conference and an SCBWI member. She has served as a picture book mentor for We Need Diverse Books and #PBChat. Tara speaks at conferences and events regarding picture books, writing, brainstorming techniques, and social media for authors. Her former career was in high-tech marketing and PR. Tara is a life-long New Jersey resident. She lives in Somerset County with her husband, two teenage daughters, and an adopted stray cat named Phoebe. To learn more, visit Tara’s website.

Backstory: Q & A with Tara Lazar

Though I have never met Tara in person, I came to know and enjoy her through my involvement in Storystorm, a month of idea-generating goodness for picture book authors that Tara hosts each January. Tara is beloved, funny, and dedicated to helping fellow writers by nurturing creative energy and endorsing time at the desk working at the craft. It is my pleasure to welcome Tara to the Children’s Book Corner to discuss her latest book and her career.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write Absurd Words: A kids’ fun and hilarious Vocabulary Builder for Future Word Nerds? What seeded its creation? 

Tara Lazar: I was reading and stumbled across the word “archipelago,” which I adore, but I hadn’t seen it in a long time, so I wrote it down. Then each time I came across a fabulously fun word, I wrote it down and created a list on my phone’s Notes app. When my list exceeded 100 words, I put it up on my web site. Then I added to it periodically. About a year later, I noticed that page on my site was getting the most traffic—hundreds of hits daily. Whoa, that word list is popular? Huh! I never would have imagined. But that’s when I started thinking about turning the list into a book.

JB: You are dubbed a “vocab virtuoso” on the front cover. Tell us about that.

TL: The publisher added that. At first I was a “word nerd extraordinaire” but I countered with “vocab virtuoso” and it stuck.

JB: How did you land on the “Word Squads” structure of Absurd Words?  And how did you decide what categories to include?

TL: We knew a single list of A-Z words arranged like a traditional dictionary wouldn’t grab a young reader’s attention, so a lot of thought went into how to organize the book. Then editor Bunmi Ishola joined the team with a brilliant idea: categorize the words!

Then came the difficult task—to try splitting hundreds of words into viable, appropriate categories. It took me weeks, maybe even months, to do that. Bunmi would shuffle things around and send it back. I’d take another stab at it. This back and forth went on for months, too. It took a while to call them “word squads.” My youngest daughter was in middle school at the time and I noticed her friend group calling themselves a “squad”. So I went with it!

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of Absurd Words or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book.

TL: The title! Oh, how we slaved over the title, which has not happened to me before. Typically, my picture book ideas come to me in the form of a title, so I haven’t needed to change them. But I originally called this manuscript THE WHATCHAMACALLIT WORDBOOK and it was nixed. Then it was THE WHIZBANG WORDBOOK. Then it got a few other titles I wasn’t thrilled with before both my acquiring editor Kelly Barrales-Saylor and I arrived upon the winner simultaneously: ABSURD WORDS!

JB: Though Absurd Words is a reference book, its design is engaging and entertaining, with bright colors, a snappy format, and hip fonts and graphics. Tell us about the design of the book.

The design is all Sourcebooks. They were familiar with other education-entertainment hybrid books in the MG market and went in that direction.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the writing of Absurd Words?

TL: I never stopped collecting words. I kept adding and adding to the book…and now I think I have enough new content for a second edition!

JB: What do you hope middle graders will take away from Absurd Words?

TL: I hope it inspires a love of words and pumps up their vocabulary…and perhaps it will serve as the genesis of new words that we’ll eventually see in the dictionary!

JB: How do you see Absurd Words connecting to curriculum or being used in schools?

TL: I wrote an entire section for educators that I hope to release soon. There are writing prompts, silly quizzes and games like my favorite, STUMP THE ADULT. All were created with the intention that the students hardly realize they’re learning vocabulary—they’re just having fun.

JB: What project are you currently working on?

TL: I have two new picture book series that haven’t been announced yet, and I’m currently working on revisions. Plus, there are several picture books still out on submission!

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books to review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the mission or theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. Some of the books in the “possible” pile I highlight on Mondays (most weeks) on Instagram. Ultimately, I have to choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet, there are many worthy books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So, Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my humble opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment below.

In anticipation of National Poetry Month celebrated in April, consider the following notable new poetry releases and resources:

• Alphapoetica: A Poetry Primer for the Everyday Poet by Kate McCarroll Moore (intended for educators and adults)
• Friends & Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children by the Writers’ Loft Authors and Illustrators, including Audrey Day-Williams, Josh Funk, Lynda Mulally Hunt, Peter H. Reynolds, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Robert Thibeault, Kip Wilson, and Jane Yolen. Back matter offers activities and resources. Coloring pages are also available free to download. The book trailer features the reading of a selection of the book’s poems.
• Poem in Your Pocket Day is slated to be celebrated on April 29. Consider If This Bird Had Pockets: A Poem in Your Pocket Day Celebration by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, illustrated by Emma Virján. View the book trailer narrated by Amy reading from the book. Find guides and activities on the Amy’s website. For ideas on celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day, check out this post.
• Newly released in paperback, Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes is a stunning memoir-in-verse that is heart wrenching but ultimately hopeful, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the pivotal importance of supportive people in anchoring our experiences and providing a critical lens.
• Kate DiCamillo reads poetry.
• For more children’s poetry books, interviews, and resources, see recommendations on previous Children’s Book Corner posts, especially here and here. For novels-in-verse, visit this Children’s Book Corner post.

News & Updates

I am thrilled! Over the moon! Jumping and squealing! Book 2 in the Cayuga Island Kids series, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek is a finalist for the 2022 Ben Franklin Award for Young Reader Fiction, 8-12 years! I’ll find out at the awards ceremony if it’s been awarded a GOLD or SILVER! Excitement and anticipation abound! Stay tuned…

Book 3 in the Cayuga Island Kids series, The Case of the Messy Message and the Missing Facts, hits the shelves on May 15! View the book trailer. Learn more about the book and read the advance praise and reviews on Goodreads. Pre-order a copy. Shipping is free from the publisher within the 48 contiguous states.

Find news and information on my upcoming events.

The Cayuga Island Kids series illustrator, Gabriella Vagnoli, was the featured illustrator on the Writing & Illustrating blog on March 12,2022.

Ready for an absolutely heartwarming SEL story? Young children at West Side Union Elementary School in Healdsburg, California are helping others overcome everyday challenges by way of prerecorded messages on a telephone hotline dubbed Peptoc. Designed by two creative and caring teachers, the free service is brought to students by students themselves daily. It’s gone viral receiving up to 9,000 calls per hour.

Book 3 of the Cayuga Island Kids chapter book series

Final Thought