The Lost Words

This beautiful book is full of breathtaking artwork. And it's massive! I've included a pic comparing it's size to standard books. The poems are filled with childlike wonder for the world. Feels like the perfect book to read to kids as we huddle around the book in a cozy circle. Got it at a good discount too so I'm ecstatic.

"Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic" is a dialogue which has stayed with me from Harry Potter. 'The Lost Words' by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris, is a collection of words which the authors eloquently remind us of, so that they don't vanish from our language, hence vanish completely. It is a delightful heap of acrostic poems interspersed with paintings of raw wilderness. It is a book which, adults and children alike, can read through in half an hour and walk away with a fresh pair of eyes and a gladdened heart.The authors rightly call it a 'spell book'. Each poem and painting captures and conveys the spirit of a certain element of the natural world. 'Acorn' and 'Lark' would be my favorites.The book also prompts one to create one's own spell book, of disappearing words in one's own landscape. How many trees can most children name today? Or even adults for that matter? How many birds from their neighborhood? Possibly the words begin vanishing with the trees but I also believe that the converse can happen. Words and names are doorways to relationships. With nature. Maybe our cognizance of its elements will protect it, let it be, or be the beginning of a deeper relationship. Or rather a discovery of one with all life around.The Lost Words communicates this. 'An Explorer's guide to The Lost Words' by Eva John, which is freely downloadable, guides the enthusiastic teacher on how to use this book to engage children, although some of the activities/exercises I found were valuable for me as well. It also sparks off many ideas as to how the outdoors and wilderness can be interestingly integrated into the classroom.

A keepsake for sure. A book for all ages. The illustrations are beyond any adjectives and the poems as well. The concept is so beautiful.

Beautiful illustrations and poems!

I'm so glad I got this book

A delight.

This book is a must. For adults, and more so for kids. Our connection with nature is worsening by the day. This book can help rekindle that.

I wasn't looking for one this size but if you're OK with a big coffee table format, the book is good. All the words are nature specific.