A HISTORY OF WORDS FOR CHILDREN

An introduction to the history and uses of spoken and written language.

In this encore to A History of Music for Children (2021), co-written by David Schweitzer, Richards again ties general comments and observations to a broadly inclusive cast of historical figures—discussing the invention of writing and its early use in recording stories, for instance, while introducing Akkadian poet Enheduanna, Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi, and the Brothers Grimm. But while she tackles topics ranging from alphabets and language families to sign languages, poetry, graffiti, advertising, and even emojis (with samples of a West African set designed by Ivorian O’Plérou and invented languages from Esperanto to Elvish), she barely touches on what “words” actually are or how they are constructed. She likewise has little or nothing to say about grammar, punctuation, or even semantics. Interspersed with photos of a clay tablet, a page from Anne Frank’s diary, and other well-chosen artifacts, Blake tucks in tiny images of herself and the author squiring readers through the chapters in company with dozens of racially and culturally diverse word users down the ages.

Not the last word but a wide-angled survey nonetheless.