About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts expressing boredom with school subjects or shows a budding interest in wordplay and 'rebellious' humor. It is an ideal bridge for the kid who thinks history is just a list of dates and wants to know the grit and grime behind how we talk. Terry Deary transforms etymology into an adventure, using the Horrible Histories signature style to explore the bizarre, gross, and often hilarious origins of everyday English words. This book nurtures curiosity and a love for language by stripping away the dry academic layer of linguistics. It empowers children to see English as a living, breathing, and occasionally disgusting entity shaped by Vikings, Romans, and medieval peasants. It is perfectly suited for independent readers aged 8 to 12 who enjoy facts that make them say 'ew' and 'cool' in the same breath. You might choose this to boost a reluctant reader's confidence or to provide a deeper, more colorful context for their school writing assignments.
