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The Lost Words
From Acorn to Weasel: a gorgeous, hand-illustrated, large-format spellbook celebrating the magic and wonder of the natural world
All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. Words like Dandelion, Otter, Bramble, Acorn and Lark represent the natural world of childhood, a rich landscape of discovery and imagination that is fading from children's minds.
The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of the poetry of nature words and the living glory of our distinctive, British countryside. With acrostic spell-poems by peerless wordsmith Robert Macfarlane and hand-painted illustrations by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book captures the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages.
All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. Words like Dandelion, Otter, Bramble, Acorn and Lark represent the natural world of childhood, a rich landscape of discovery and imagination that is fading from children's minds.
The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of the poetry of nature words and the living glory of our distinctive, British countryside. With acrostic spell-poems by peerless wordsmith Robert Macfarlane and hand-painted illustrations by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book captures the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2017
83 people are currently reading
14.9k people want to read
About the author
Robert Macfarlane
107 books3,882 followersRobert Macfarlane is a British nature writer and literary critic.
Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford, he is currently a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and teaches in the Faculty of English at Cambridge.
Robert Macfarlane is the author of prize-winning and bestselling books about landscape, nature, people and place, including Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination (2003), The Wild Places (2007), The Old Ways (2012), Holloway (2013, with Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards), Landmarks (2015), The Lost Words: A Spell Book (with the artist Jackie Morris, 2017) and Underland: A Deep Time Journey (2019). His work has been translated into many languages, won prizes around the world, and his books have been widely adapted for film, television, stage and radio. He has collaborated with artists, film-makers, actors, photographers and musicians, including Hauschka, Willem Dafoe, Karine Polwart and Stanley Donwood. In 2017 he was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford, he is currently a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and teaches in the Faculty of English at Cambridge.
Robert Macfarlane is the author of prize-winning and bestselling books about landscape, nature, people and place, including Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination (2003), The Wild Places (2007), The Old Ways (2012), Holloway (2013, with Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards), Landmarks (2015), The Lost Words: A Spell Book (with the artist Jackie Morris, 2017) and Underland: A Deep Time Journey (2019). His work has been translated into many languages, won prizes around the world, and his books have been widely adapted for film, television, stage and radio. He has collaborated with artists, film-makers, actors, photographers and musicians, including Hauschka, Willem Dafoe, Karine Polwart and Stanley Donwood. In 2017 he was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,257 reviews
November 16, 2017
Gone are the days when children’s alphabets would begin with A is for Acorn, B is for butterfly and C is for caterpillar. Now days it is likely to be A is for Acer, B is for Blackberry and C is for Cisco. Back in 2015, The Oxford University Press dropped around 50 words that were drawn from the natural world from the latest edition of its Junior dictionary; they argued that it was less relevant as children were spending less time outside and were glued to the screen of a tablet or phone. The alarm that this caused was quite noticeable, authors such as Morpurgo, Attwood and Maitland wrote to the OUP asking for them to be reinstated in the dictionary.
One of the other signatories to the letter was Robert Macfarlane. He has been collecting words on and about the natural world for many years and if you follow his Twitter feed you will see him post a new word every day expounding the delights of the world around us. But he was in a position to do something else about it too. Words that had been floating away in the air like seeds from a dandelion clock have been found and rehomed in this sumptuous book written by Macfarlane and the artist Jackie Morris; The Lost Words.
It is not a long book, the spells written by Macfarlane (he claims that he is not a poet, but he is wrong) has a resonance that is soothing and salient at the same time as well as having their roots deep in the natural world. It is the pictures that make this book really special though; Morris’s art for this book is richly portrayed, full of energy and life, there are letters that swirl across a page, she has captured the steely look from a raven and the blur of a kingfisher just perfectly. It is primarily a book for children, but many others will find solace in the way that it seeks to lead people back into the natural world make this such a special book to possess.
One of the other signatories to the letter was Robert Macfarlane. He has been collecting words on and about the natural world for many years and if you follow his Twitter feed you will see him post a new word every day expounding the delights of the world around us. But he was in a position to do something else about it too. Words that had been floating away in the air like seeds from a dandelion clock have been found and rehomed in this sumptuous book written by Macfarlane and the artist Jackie Morris; The Lost Words.
It is not a long book, the spells written by Macfarlane (he claims that he is not a poet, but he is wrong) has a resonance that is soothing and salient at the same time as well as having their roots deep in the natural world. It is the pictures that make this book really special though; Morris’s art for this book is richly portrayed, full of energy and life, there are letters that swirl across a page, she has captured the steely look from a raven and the blur of a kingfisher just perfectly. It is primarily a book for children, but many others will find solace in the way that it seeks to lead people back into the natural world make this such a special book to possess.
January 26, 2019
This is a book for children. Which I didn't know at first so I was surprised by the choices of "lost words" used in this book as I didn't think them lost at all. Then I read the book's description and thus found out that the 2007 edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary was missing around forty common words concerning nature. Apparently they were no longer being used enough by children to merit their place in the dictionary. The authors thought this could not be, should not be - and I quite agree.
Thinking about it more deeply though (I love that the book has that effect), I agree that many people no longer care much for the natural world and might have seen brambles at some point, but aren't aware what exactly they are. Or they call an adder simply a snake. Or they don't know the difference between ravens and crows.
This book is supposed to teach children exactly those things in an enchanting way, like a spell book.
It being a children's book also accounts for its massiveness (another thing I hadn't expected *lol*). Seriously, this book is HUGE.
As great as the poetry and short descriptions about/of kingfishers and other animals and plants are, the illustrations are what make this book so special. See for yourself:
This is what the pages look like in general with the text (description and poetry) on the left and the portrait on the right.
These are then followed by a spread showing the animal or plant in question in its natural habitat so to speak.
So not much text, but apart from short descriptions (just enough to give the children (or older readers) an idea about what the book is presenting) there is also nice poetry in here - showcasing the author's love of the natural world - and, of course, the very nice illustrations.
Thinking about it more deeply though (I love that the book has that effect), I agree that many people no longer care much for the natural world and might have seen brambles at some point, but aren't aware what exactly they are. Or they call an adder simply a snake. Or they don't know the difference between ravens and crows.
This book is supposed to teach children exactly those things in an enchanting way, like a spell book.
It being a children's book also accounts for its massiveness (another thing I hadn't expected *lol*). Seriously, this book is HUGE.
As great as the poetry and short descriptions about/of kingfishers and other animals and plants are, the illustrations are what make this book so special. See for yourself:
This is what the pages look like in general with the text (description and poetry) on the left and the portrait on the right.
These are then followed by a spread showing the animal or plant in question in its natural habitat so to speak.
So not much text, but apart from short descriptions (just enough to give the children (or older readers) an idea about what the book is presenting) there is also nice poetry in here - showcasing the author's love of the natural world - and, of course, the very nice illustrations.
April 22, 2018
From reading goodreads reviews I gather this book was inspired by a list of words removed from the oxford children's dictionary although it doesn't mention this in the book. Not knowing this I could only go by what the book says it is about- words that have vanished from the language of children. I just don't understand, words like conker, dandelion and starling have not vanished from the language of children and even in poor built up areas of city, children are well aware of what these are. I expected to find words that really were forgotten but once everyday language of children, words like peewit, bishy barnaby, mardle, hetter, grensarge.
The illustrations appear to be accurate observations of nature but they are very misleading, you never see Tawny owls in the day, the goldfinches markings are wrong, you would never see seven wrens sitting together, many out of scale, wrong colours etc.
Really disappointing.
The illustrations appear to be accurate observations of nature but they are very misleading, you never see Tawny owls in the day, the goldfinches markings are wrong, you would never see seven wrens sitting together, many out of scale, wrong colours etc.
Really disappointing.
October 1, 2021
Library overdrive Audiobook…read by Edith Bowman, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews, Benjamin Zephaniah
….47 minutes
Birds, rocks, mountains, springs, rivers, diamonds, echos, grass, what-the-eye misses — wood, Raven, willow, solver-of-power, ivy, otter, inspire, wind, prince, ground cover, sky wire, water, rainbows & glitter
WORDS…..
NATURE….
SOUNDS….
LIONS of the WATER
…Nothing was ‘demanded’
of me when listening to this!
…Nothing intellectually was more important than ‘being’ - ‘listening’ - ‘experiencing’.
Sooooooooooo 🍂🍃BEAUTIFUL!!!!
🌿…… mesmerizing, addictive audiobook!!!
….47 minutes
Birds, rocks, mountains, springs, rivers, diamonds, echos, grass, what-the-eye misses — wood, Raven, willow, solver-of-power, ivy, otter, inspire, wind, prince, ground cover, sky wire, water, rainbows & glitter
WORDS…..
NATURE….
SOUNDS….
LIONS of the WATER
…Nothing was ‘demanded’
of me when listening to this!
…Nothing intellectually was more important than ‘being’ - ‘listening’ - ‘experiencing’.
Sooooooooooo 🍂🍃BEAUTIFUL!!!!
🌿…… mesmerizing, addictive audiobook!!!
December 15, 2019
This gorgeously illustrated book captures twenty of over 40 words that the Oxford Junior Dictionary dropped due to children’s disuse. Oxford excised acorn, dandelion, heron, otter, raven, weasel, wren, and willow and replaced them with attachment, blog, cut-and-paste, and voice-mail. The natural world was replaced with the virtual world. An outcry was raised requesting that the words be returned. McFarlane and Morris create a “spell book” to summon some of the lost words and celebrate the value and beauty of nature. A grassroots campaign ensued to ensure that copies of the book were placed in schools in Scotland, England, and Wales and in hospices in Britain. In 2018, the book jointly won the Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards with The Hate U Give. The authors beautifully and lovingly demonstrate the spirit and importance of returning these words to common usage and to embrace and explore our wilderness. I glowingly commend them and all who participated in these efforts.
October 4, 2017
Wow. Absolutely stunning, both words and illustrations. Deserves more than 5 stars.
It is a shame that these words that were part of my countryside childhood have become lost to the children of today. It is quite scary.
This work of art is sublime. The empty spaces speak volumes and truly complement the art work throughout.
The spells are composed and sound magical when read aloud, as intended. Yes, I did verbalise them.
This is a book I shall return to again and again.
It is a shame that these words that were part of my countryside childhood have become lost to the children of today. It is quite scary.
This work of art is sublime. The empty spaces speak volumes and truly complement the art work throughout.
The spells are composed and sound magical when read aloud, as intended. Yes, I did verbalise them.
This is a book I shall return to again and again.
January 13, 2020
At first I just used this book as a display book on my hearth turning a page each day. I finally sat down and read it after starting Macfarlane's Landmarks and reading about the naural world words that are going away: Dandelion, wren, otter...etc. Then this book came alive. These are The Lost Words. The illustrations are worthy of the words.
May 5, 2021
✨Enchanting✨
💚🌿💚
I was waiting to read this in physical form, but when I saw the (full cast) audiobook available...I couldn't help myself!
🌳
I was very pleasantly surprised to hear bird song, rain sounds, and the music of the natural world in the background of these "spells."
🍃
Robert Macfarlane wrote this to bring the names of the natural world back into our minds, eyes, ears, and lives!
💚
What a magnificent thing to do!
💚🌿💚
I was waiting to read this in physical form, but when I saw the (full cast) audiobook available...I couldn't help myself!
🌳
I was very pleasantly surprised to hear bird song, rain sounds, and the music of the natural world in the background of these "spells."
🍃
Robert Macfarlane wrote this to bring the names of the natural world back into our minds, eyes, ears, and lives!
💚
What a magnificent thing to do!
June 3, 2019
Absolutely exquisite! This is yet another magnificent book from Mr MacFarlane and so stunning that it takes pride of place on my shelf where many visitors pick it up. It's definitely the most breathtakingly delightful book in my collection and should be in every home, school and library, and although marketed towards children this is a book adults will also thoroughly enjoy. Jackie Morris's hand-painted illustrations are simply beautiful and complement the poems superbly. Precipitated by the Oxford English Dictionaries decision to remove many worlds related to the natural world in favour of technology-related terms this book is a statement piece which fights against the idea of too much screen time and not enough outside time. A magical, delightful read in each and every way!
January 2, 2018
Buy this book for the children in your life, or if there are none for your inner child
March 29, 2025
I read UNDERLAND~A DEEP TIME JOURNEY last year and was impressed by this exploration of
all things underground. Part exotic travelogue, part science, part philosophy. I was especially
impressed by the poetic language so much a part of Robert Macfarlane's writing style. Then I
ran across a review of THE LOST WORDS in a Goodreads library que and recognized the author's
name. The common denominator in both books is poetry.
I took a chance. I brought this prize home from my local library.
To say WORDS is an oversize book is an understatement. This hardbound book weighs as much
as a Buick. Plywood instead of pulp. Drywall ?
Excuse me, but I stray......
At 14" x 11", it was actually awkward to carry / handle for an adult. More of a lecturn book than
a laptop reader.
But the contents ? Absolutely enchanting for children as well as the now exhausted grandparent
who chose it and had to carry it home.
Short original poems built lovingly from rhymes, metaphors and alliteration that are meant to be
read aloud. Even if there's no one else in the room.
Poems that celebrate the plant and animal world we so often take for granted. Plant and animal
names that are actually disappearing from children's dictionaries to make room for words and
concepts like broadband, blog and voice-mail.
The book is subtitled "A Spell Book" as a reference to the conjuring, the magic inside.
Veteran illustrator Jackie Morris is responsible for so much of this experience.
The illustrations are huge, expressive, flowing, colorful. They render their subjects faithfully
whether at rest or in motion.
And either way, the sense of life is ever present.
A sequel is available: THE LOST SPELLS. Definitely on my bucket list.
all things underground. Part exotic travelogue, part science, part philosophy. I was especially
impressed by the poetic language so much a part of Robert Macfarlane's writing style. Then I
ran across a review of THE LOST WORDS in a Goodreads library que and recognized the author's
name. The common denominator in both books is poetry.
I took a chance. I brought this prize home from my local library.
To say WORDS is an oversize book is an understatement. This hardbound book weighs as much
as a Buick. Plywood instead of pulp. Drywall ?
Excuse me, but I stray......
At 14" x 11", it was actually awkward to carry / handle for an adult. More of a lecturn book than
a laptop reader.
But the contents ? Absolutely enchanting for children as well as the now exhausted grandparent
who chose it and had to carry it home.
Short original poems built lovingly from rhymes, metaphors and alliteration that are meant to be
read aloud. Even if there's no one else in the room.
Poems that celebrate the plant and animal world we so often take for granted. Plant and animal
names that are actually disappearing from children's dictionaries to make room for words and
concepts like broadband, blog and voice-mail.
The book is subtitled "A Spell Book" as a reference to the conjuring, the magic inside.
Veteran illustrator Jackie Morris is responsible for so much of this experience.
The illustrations are huge, expressive, flowing, colorful. They render their subjects faithfully
whether at rest or in motion.
And either way, the sense of life is ever present.
A sequel is available: THE LOST SPELLS. Definitely on my bucket list.
April 15, 2020
Who knew, that behind our backs, language we know - have used, have relied on, counted as part of our own life's script - is being quietly archived, retired, banished???? Hats off to Robert Macfarlane for throwing back the curtain and showing the Wizards (of Words?) and revealing the sleight of hand in which they engage. Stealthy. Sneaksy, sayeth Golem.
I get it that Someone Somewhere should keep track of which words are trending, used by which generation and which part of the globe does what when. But just because a flavor falls out of favor, it isn't removed forever from the cookbooks, right? It just gets categorized but remains available (ish). Why should a word, as lovely as Dandelion be banished? Acorn? Otter? Barn Owl?
There is careful consideration for each lost word. Poetically arranged, each word's necessity and presence is weighed and suggested to your own mind and life, in order to understand what its absence creates. Pages are illustrated with brushstrokes of genius to bring the loss of the word to your heart, brushed up against your memories. Because of this, I am sure this is not simply a child's book, although it may at first seem to be. The Lost Words is for all of us who speak the language into which these words have evolved and settled, with specific definitions and uses.
Best of all, the author works his Poet's Superpower, and creates a spell, a summoning spell to pull that word away from the wizards-who-decide-what-they-decide, and take it back as our own. Therein lies the mighty act of persuasion in which the author and illustrator have joined forces - to urge and inspire us to find ways to make sure the words are reclaimed by those who know them, and are introduced to youth who don't, and who may not find acorns as easily as we once did. You must save the otter, saying its very name, telling its story; and that of the barn owl - the ally of our grandparents, freeing their barns and farmlands from ever-replenishing rodents. We, with our young, need to make place for noticing the humble, sun-cheerful dandelion - not just to annihilate every yellow shout from the unnatural uninterrupted patch of green we jealously tend - but rather to ensure there is a place where a dandelion can just be a dandelion. . . there is a summoning spell for all in this beautiful book.
I rate this 5 stars, next to a field of dandelions, by a bucket of acorns at the edge of a stream where young otters play all day and into the twilight, tucking in by mother only when barn owl wakes up and gives fair warning to the woodlands that the night belongs to his folk now. . . .
I get it that Someone Somewhere should keep track of which words are trending, used by which generation and which part of the globe does what when. But just because a flavor falls out of favor, it isn't removed forever from the cookbooks, right? It just gets categorized but remains available (ish). Why should a word, as lovely as Dandelion be banished? Acorn? Otter? Barn Owl?
There is careful consideration for each lost word. Poetically arranged, each word's necessity and presence is weighed and suggested to your own mind and life, in order to understand what its absence creates. Pages are illustrated with brushstrokes of genius to bring the loss of the word to your heart, brushed up against your memories. Because of this, I am sure this is not simply a child's book, although it may at first seem to be. The Lost Words is for all of us who speak the language into which these words have evolved and settled, with specific definitions and uses.
Best of all, the author works his Poet's Superpower, and creates a spell, a summoning spell to pull that word away from the wizards-who-decide-what-they-decide, and take it back as our own. Therein lies the mighty act of persuasion in which the author and illustrator have joined forces - to urge and inspire us to find ways to make sure the words are reclaimed by those who know them, and are introduced to youth who don't, and who may not find acorns as easily as we once did. You must save the otter, saying its very name, telling its story; and that of the barn owl - the ally of our grandparents, freeing their barns and farmlands from ever-replenishing rodents. We, with our young, need to make place for noticing the humble, sun-cheerful dandelion - not just to annihilate every yellow shout from the unnatural uninterrupted patch of green we jealously tend - but rather to ensure there is a place where a dandelion can just be a dandelion. . . there is a summoning spell for all in this beautiful book.
I rate this 5 stars, next to a field of dandelions, by a bucket of acorns at the edge of a stream where young otters play all day and into the twilight, tucking in by mother only when barn owl wakes up and gives fair warning to the woodlands that the night belongs to his folk now. . . .
August 3, 2023
Although that yes, I have found Robert MacFarlane's presented verses in his and Jackie Morris' Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Lost Words for the most part poetically delightful and much engaging, I am sorry to say that I for one am at the same time also absolutely NOT WILLING to in any manner overlook and forgive the unavoidable, sad and academically problematic truth of the matter that the author, that Robert MacFarlane is in my opinion basically fibbing in a major way, as really, NONE of the presented and featured as supposedly lost in some manner nature nouns are in fact and indeed this by any stretch of the imagination.
For while a few of the author's selection might indeed perhaps not be as commonly used anymore as they were in the past (such as newt, adder and bramble, for example), the entire list (and at least from where I stand) most definitely does NOT contain ANY nouns that are truly disappearing out of common English usage. And indeed, in my opinion, most of us, and yes even children, would or at least should be cognizant of what words like dandelion, starling and magpie are and mean and the author calling these words "lost" and insinuating that they are even totally disappearing from English language, well I for one do claim that this is simply not correct, not the truth and also majorly do fault Robert Macfarlane for even suggesting this (and without either adequate proof or cited sources at that).
So therefore, even though Robert Macfarlane's poetry is most certainly and definitely beautiful and lyrically richly descriptive, and while I have also found Jackie Morris' accompanying pictures gloriously colourful and generally realistic in scope and appearance (albeit that there are indeed also some annoying factual errors to be noticed with Morris’ illustrations, such as for example having nocturnal tawny owls depicted in broad daylight), I cannot on a personal and academic level consider more than two stars maximum for The Lost Words, as to and for me, Robert MacFarlane's claim that such still very much common nature based nouns like acorn, fern, heather, raven, willow and weasel (amongst of course the other listed inclusions of The Lost Words) are somehow disappearing or have already disappeared from the English language is just in no way acceptable, as this is simply totally and utterly FALSE, and academic truth oriented I just cannot stand and stomach this kind of what I personally would consider a case of intellectual dishonesty.
For while a few of the author's selection might indeed perhaps not be as commonly used anymore as they were in the past (such as newt, adder and bramble, for example), the entire list (and at least from where I stand) most definitely does NOT contain ANY nouns that are truly disappearing out of common English usage. And indeed, in my opinion, most of us, and yes even children, would or at least should be cognizant of what words like dandelion, starling and magpie are and mean and the author calling these words "lost" and insinuating that they are even totally disappearing from English language, well I for one do claim that this is simply not correct, not the truth and also majorly do fault Robert Macfarlane for even suggesting this (and without either adequate proof or cited sources at that).
So therefore, even though Robert Macfarlane's poetry is most certainly and definitely beautiful and lyrically richly descriptive, and while I have also found Jackie Morris' accompanying pictures gloriously colourful and generally realistic in scope and appearance (albeit that there are indeed also some annoying factual errors to be noticed with Morris’ illustrations, such as for example having nocturnal tawny owls depicted in broad daylight), I cannot on a personal and academic level consider more than two stars maximum for The Lost Words, as to and for me, Robert MacFarlane's claim that such still very much common nature based nouns like acorn, fern, heather, raven, willow and weasel (amongst of course the other listed inclusions of The Lost Words) are somehow disappearing or have already disappeared from the English language is just in no way acceptable, as this is simply totally and utterly FALSE, and academic truth oriented I just cannot stand and stomach this kind of what I personally would consider a case of intellectual dishonesty.
November 12, 2017
Absolutely gorgeous.
January 31, 2018
5* for the illustrations
4* for the poetry
This ENORMOUS book is really quite beautiful. The "lost words" of the title are words children used to know - like acorn, bramble, magpie, wren - and these words are the subject of charming acrostic poems coupled with some of the most stunning artwork I have ever seen in a children's book.
A lovely book, to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Just take a big bag to carry it home in :-)
4* for the poetry
This ENORMOUS book is really quite beautiful. The "lost words" of the title are words children used to know - like acorn, bramble, magpie, wren - and these words are the subject of charming acrostic poems coupled with some of the most stunning artwork I have ever seen in a children's book.
A lovely book, to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Just take a big bag to carry it home in :-)
March 10, 2019
A tour of the natural world through beautiful illustrations and acrostic poems. The focus words are those that have been excised from children's dictionaries and vocabulary lists in recent years on the grounds that they are no longer current, in general usage , or known at all. This would make a great addition to an elementary classroom for the artwork, vocabulary building, nature study, and sheer pleasure.
Read
April 14, 2022Stumbling upon this gem of a book was rather like finding real treasure in the library! In the introduction, author Macfarlane explains that the twenty words that form the basis of his poetry are all words from the world of nature that British children are rarely encountering today. The accompanying illustrations, created by Jackie Morris, are breathtakingly beautiful and have the feel of a naturalist's sketchbook. Adults and children alike are sure to love this outstanding book! – Louisa A.
June 2, 2020
This is a beautiful book which I was put on the trail off after someone was telling me about the lost words project. The basic idea is to counter the fact that slowly there are words which are leaving the English vocabulary due to the younger generations either not knowing or using them.
The book is basically a book of verse (I am sure there is a technical name for it, however I will admit that it currently escapes me) where each letter of the word becomes a line in a poem celebrating this work of the world around us.
Beautifully illustrated the book celebrates everything from the humble acorn, the beautiful otter and majestic willow. All things I have seen in my childhood as I grew up but all of which sadly are becoming fewer and fewer (both in conversation and in our world).
The verses are all beautifully illustrated making this as much of a feast for the eyes as it is of words and certainly makes it book that can state the test the time while I hope it endeavours to protect the words it represents as well/
The book is basically a book of verse (I am sure there is a technical name for it, however I will admit that it currently escapes me) where each letter of the word becomes a line in a poem celebrating this work of the world around us.
Beautifully illustrated the book celebrates everything from the humble acorn, the beautiful otter and majestic willow. All things I have seen in my childhood as I grew up but all of which sadly are becoming fewer and fewer (both in conversation and in our world).
The verses are all beautifully illustrated making this as much of a feast for the eyes as it is of words and certainly makes it book that can state the test the time while I hope it endeavours to protect the words it represents as well/
May 8, 2018
Beautiful and full of life, 'The Lost Words' is an incredible collection of illustrations and poetry that will ignite curiosity towards nature within every reader. To me, the poetry feels like it is written in an all knowing voice, as if it has been waiting to speak for years. The attention to small complex details woven throughout the book made me question how much I really notice about nature- despite having lived in the countryside for the majority of my life.
There are two sides to this book, a celebration of the magic of nature, but there is also an edge of pleading and urgency to it. There is a sense that humanity has turned their back on nature, built walls to hide away from it. We have lost our touch, are distanced and unfamiliar with something that was once the core to most childhoods- and a major part within my own. There is a necessary undertone of warning within this book, not just of the words that have been lost within society today, but of a lost world.
There are two sides to this book, a celebration of the magic of nature, but there is also an edge of pleading and urgency to it. There is a sense that humanity has turned their back on nature, built walls to hide away from it. We have lost our touch, are distanced and unfamiliar with something that was once the core to most childhoods- and a major part within my own. There is a necessary undertone of warning within this book, not just of the words that have been lost within society today, but of a lost world.
May 11, 2019
I am in love with this book, it's everything I love.
I listened to the audiobook. The bird sounds the sounds of nature, Different readers , the lost words . Oh my goodness, so lovely.
This is one I will listen to many many times , it's so calming and relaxing.
I listened to the audiobook. The bird sounds the sounds of nature, Different readers , the lost words . Oh my goodness, so lovely.
This is one I will listen to many many times , it's so calming and relaxing.
January 27, 2023
When requesting this book as a holiday gift suggestion, I hadn't anticipated its size & graphical format. Rather, I was very impressed by Robert Macfarlane's use of language & the creative expression given to his various explorations on foot in The Old Ways & sought to read another of his works. Nevertheless, The Lost Words, a collaboration by Macfarlane & illustrator Jackie Morris is a treasure of verbal & visual representation, with the latter provided by Morris.
In my own interpretation, The Lost Words is not merely a "Children's Book" as some G/R reviewers have suggested, unless by that it is meant that the book appeals to the inner child in each of us. Rather, it is a hybrid book that fuses poetically rendered words with vibrant images in a fundamentally harmonious manner.
Beneath or within almost every so-called children's fable is a very concrete story-telling arc that attempts to portray wisdom in the form of a timeless caution or an uplifting narrative for child & adult alike, morality tales that often provide anecdotal guidance & occasionally some humor as well.
The Lost Words begins like this...
The reader is informed that "you hold in your hands a spellbook (a kind of textbook of magic) for conjuring back these lost words" and to do so you will "need to seek, find & speak". As with fables & fairy tales, words contain magic...
Or perhaps, Jackdaw
Suffice it to say that when the editors of The Oxford Junior Dictionary, recently fashioned a revision, deleting 40 common words dealing with nature, replacing them with words like blog, broadband & bullet-point, they did not realize that they had opened the proverbial "can of worms".
For in so-doing, a rather tectonic shift had occurred, displacing the outdoor & natural world by the indoor & virtual one, creating as the authors of The Lost Words put it, "a powerful sign of the growing gulf between childhood & the natural world". In their response to this displacement, Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris have teamed to create a magical book for readers of all ages.
In my own interpretation, The Lost Words is not merely a "Children's Book" as some G/R reviewers have suggested, unless by that it is meant that the book appeals to the inner child in each of us. Rather, it is a hybrid book that fuses poetically rendered words with vibrant images in a fundamentally harmonious manner.
Beneath or within almost every so-called children's fable is a very concrete story-telling arc that attempts to portray wisdom in the form of a timeless caution or an uplifting narrative for child & adult alike, morality tales that often provide anecdotal guidance & occasionally some humor as well.
The Lost Words begins like this...
Once upon a time words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first no one noticed--fading away like water on stone. The words were those that children used to name the natural world around them: acorn, adder bluebell, bramble, conker--gone! The words were becoming lost; no longer vivid in children's verses, no longer alive int heir stories.If the reader takes this commentary quite literally, they may miss the point of the book itself. Rather, the authors are merely providing a caution to the changing manner in which we (children included) visualize the real or natural world in the face of encroaching, even pervasive technology.
The reader is informed that "you hold in your hands a spellbook (a kind of textbook of magic) for conjuring back these lost words" and to do so you will "need to seek, find & speak". As with fables & fairy tales, words contain magic...
spells of many kinds that might just, by the old, strong magic of being spoken aloud, unfold dreams & songs, and summon lost words back into the mouth & the mind's eye.The oversized tome is visually stunning and always there is a welcome merger of words & the richly comforting images of Jackie Morris, images that complement but do not overshadow the words--words like acorn as an example:
Or perhaps, Jackdaw
Suffice it to say that when the editors of The Oxford Junior Dictionary, recently fashioned a revision, deleting 40 common words dealing with nature, replacing them with words like blog, broadband & bullet-point, they did not realize that they had opened the proverbial "can of worms". For in so-doing, a rather tectonic shift had occurred, displacing the outdoor & natural world by the indoor & virtual one, creating as the authors of The Lost Words put it, "a powerful sign of the growing gulf between childhood & the natural world". In their response to this displacement, Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris have teamed to create a magical book for readers of all ages.
November 27, 2020
(3.5) I followed up The Lost Words immediately with this companion book to the 14-track album a group of eight folk musicians made in response. We were already fans of Kris Drever (mostly via Lau), Karine Polwart and Beth Porter (via the Bookshop Band), and became familiar with a few more of the artists (Kerry Andrew, Julie Fowlis and Rachel Newton) earlier this year through the online Folk on Foot festivals. This volume includes six additional poems, four of which directly inspired songs on the album, plus brief bios and words on the project from each artist (each portrayed by Morris as a relevant bird, with the musician serving as the “spirit human” for the bird) the complete lyrics with notes from whoever took the lead on a particular song, and short essays by Macfarlane, Morris (also an interview) and Polwart.
It was interesting to compare the different approaches to the project: five songs directly set Macfarlane’s poetry to music, two of them primarily in spoken word form; five are based on Macfarlane “extras,” like the new spells and the “charm against harm” he wrote during anti-tree felling campaigns like the one in Sheffield; a few are essentially pop songs based around major lines from Dandelion, Goldfinch and Lark (these plus “Selkie-Boy,” based on Grey Seal, ended up being my favorites); one is a traditional song from Seckou Keita’s native Senegal that also incorporates the bilingual Fowlis’s Gaelic to mourn the words that are lost with the past; and one is a final blessing song that weaves in bits from multiple spells. The artists all bring their individual styles, but the collaborations are strong, too.
It was interesting to compare the different approaches to the project: five songs directly set Macfarlane’s poetry to music, two of them primarily in spoken word form; five are based on Macfarlane “extras,” like the new spells and the “charm against harm” he wrote during anti-tree felling campaigns like the one in Sheffield; a few are essentially pop songs based around major lines from Dandelion, Goldfinch and Lark (these plus “Selkie-Boy,” based on Grey Seal, ended up being my favorites); one is a traditional song from Seckou Keita’s native Senegal that also incorporates the bilingual Fowlis’s Gaelic to mourn the words that are lost with the past; and one is a final blessing song that weaves in bits from multiple spells. The artists all bring their individual styles, but the collaborations are strong, too.
November 23, 2018
Superlatives fail to capture the magic of this beautiful, spellbinding, necessary book. Jackie Morris wrote to Robert Macfarlane once upon a time to suggest he write the nature words the Oxford Junior Dictionary was removing from the recent edition. This precious enormous book is what happened when Robert Macfarlane wrote back to Jackie Morris. The words and the art together. Words that children will not be able to look up/see/hear in everyday nature language. Children, says the Oxford children's dictionary people, do not interact with nature now. It is not important to have the language remain. Words like adder. Willow. Kingfisher. Dandelion. Weasel. What children do need in their world, according to the children's dictionary wranglers are the words that were added. Blog. Broadband, bullet point, voicemail. This is a spell book. A conjuring book. A necessary book. A scrumptuous book. It will cause you to cry. And to cast spells. I am reminded of the Stephen King book Needful Things. This book is one of those.
April 24, 2018
This book is something of a call to action, lest we allow children to lose touch with the natural world and all its wonder. Self-styled as a 'spell book', it brings together the acrostic poems of Robert Macfarlane and the beautiful artwork of Jackie Morris. Each piece is centred around an animal or plant type, the name of which is disappearing from every day use in children's vocabularies, with some having been removed from junior dictionaries altogether.
The poems themselves are very playful, with many reading almost like tongue twisters. They should be able to engage readers both young and old alike. Coupled with the stunning artwork, the book becomes a celebration of the relationship between the beauty of the natural world and the language we use to describe it - and the importance of preserving both.
The poems themselves are very playful, with many reading almost like tongue twisters. They should be able to engage readers both young and old alike. Coupled with the stunning artwork, the book becomes a celebration of the relationship between the beauty of the natural world and the language we use to describe it - and the importance of preserving both.
November 2, 2021
Robert MacFarlane threw down a gauntlet in his introduction to one of his best works, Landmarks. He decided he would do everything in his power to add the lost language of nature back into everyday life. This is a continuation of that challenge, but here he focuses on children (of all ages). Called a book of spells, it's a gorgeously illustrated dictionary of nature words that have been lost in everyday language. But really, this is a book for adults even more than children.
November 18, 2017
I am still astounded by the size of this beautiful book!
The first thing I did was inhale the pages, the ink, the paper. 🤓❤️📖
This is the kind of tome I hope to see when I travel in my dreams and can see the books I am reading. 🌜
The artistry and craft is heart-achingly lovely and wonderfully rich, nourishing my love of words and nature and painting. Inspired. 😍
The first thing I did was inhale the pages, the ink, the paper. 🤓❤️📖
This is the kind of tome I hope to see when I travel in my dreams and can see the books I am reading. 🌜
The artistry and craft is heart-achingly lovely and wonderfully rich, nourishing my love of words and nature and painting. Inspired. 😍
December 23, 2018
This had the potential to be amazing, but turned out to be puzzling. For one thing, the words selected and considered "lost" ARE still in use. And the poetry was acrostic, which is fine, just not what I expected in such a lavishly lovingly imagined book. Perhaps my expectations were off, and it's just me.
June 28, 2022
This poetry collection had an interesting premise: words referring to nature, birds, animals and plants have been gradually disappearing from childrens' vocabulary. So this volume contains poems dedicated to these Lost Words - acorn, adder, ivy, otter, etc., sorted alphabetically. Moreover, each of these poems is acrostic and accompanied by stunning artwork! Here's an example:
The poems are nice. They used alliteration heavily and had a clear rhythm, which made them fun to read aloud. The book said it was a spellbook, capable of evoking and bringing to life the subject of the poem if read aloud - and it delivered!
But the artwork blew it out of the park for me. It's just exquisite! I'm so glad I have a physical copy of this book! As a non-native English speaker, I didn't know many of these words related to specific species (and many of them don't live in my country), so I had to look up translations.
I loved that this book was interesting, fun, informative AND beautiful. As an adult reader, I loved it, but I imagine it's even better for children as an added learning experience. Awesome idea and perfect execution! Btw, the book was unexpectedly huge (height-wise), so be prepared.
January 19, 2019
Ich habe mir dieses vielgelobte Buch zu Weihnachten geschenkt oder besser gesagt bestellt. Und gestern erst bekommen, weil zunächst die zweite Auflage gedruckt werden musste.
Ich mag dieses Buch wirklich sehr gerne, vor allem das Format, das Papier, die Illustrationen von Tieren und Pflanzen, die über die Seiten geworfenen Buchstaben. Bei den Texten wird es etwas schwieriger und ich befürchte, dass die Übersetzung hier ein wenig den Zauber beeinträchtigt. Natürlich müssen Gedichte nicht immer reimen, aber hier fehlt mir gelegentlich ein wenig der poetische Klang (dass ich die Gedichte zu Elster und Rabe besonders mag, liegt wohl an meinen persönlichen Sympathien). Ein anderes Beispiel: Der „goldfinch“ wird hier fälschlicherweise mit Goldfink übersetzt, der Vogel heißt im Deutschen aber Distelfink (wie alle Tartt-Leser wissen) oder Stieglitz. Allerdings würde das Wortspiel mit Gold dann nicht mehr funktionieren. Irgendwie stoße ich mich an solchen Unexaktheiten, gerade wenn es explizit um Wörter geht.
Trotzdem ein schönes Buch, aber vielleicht eines, das man im Original lesen sollte. Das sollte nicht allzu mühsam sein, weil die Texte kurz sind und die Bilder im Vordergrund stehen.
Ich mag dieses Buch wirklich sehr gerne, vor allem das Format, das Papier, die Illustrationen von Tieren und Pflanzen, die über die Seiten geworfenen Buchstaben. Bei den Texten wird es etwas schwieriger und ich befürchte, dass die Übersetzung hier ein wenig den Zauber beeinträchtigt. Natürlich müssen Gedichte nicht immer reimen, aber hier fehlt mir gelegentlich ein wenig der poetische Klang (dass ich die Gedichte zu Elster und Rabe besonders mag, liegt wohl an meinen persönlichen Sympathien). Ein anderes Beispiel: Der „goldfinch“ wird hier fälschlicherweise mit Goldfink übersetzt, der Vogel heißt im Deutschen aber Distelfink (wie alle Tartt-Leser wissen) oder Stieglitz. Allerdings würde das Wortspiel mit Gold dann nicht mehr funktionieren. Irgendwie stoße ich mich an solchen Unexaktheiten, gerade wenn es explizit um Wörter geht.
Trotzdem ein schönes Buch, aber vielleicht eines, das man im Original lesen sollte. Das sollte nicht allzu mühsam sein, weil die Texte kurz sind und die Bilder im Vordergrund stehen.
October 2, 2017
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, it arrived this morning and I was quite surprised at the sheer size of it. It is around A3 in size but after reading it the beauty of it couldn't be shown in anything smaller in my opinion. It's not a book heavy in words, but Robert Macfarlane's Acrostic Poetry is divine and Jackie Morris' Artwork in the book is beyond words.
The message of the book is clear , children are losing the "wild streak" and nature and it's beauty are being forgotten. My children sat enthralled in it as we talked about what the message was and why it's important to run in the grass and notice & care for our natural surroundings and the creatures that live within it before they are lost completely.
If you are after a novel or a good chunky read , This is not the book to pick .... this is simply a large piece of beautiful Poetry & Artwork with a message that needs to be heard in this technology heavy age. Thoroughly Loved it !!
The message of the book is clear , children are losing the "wild streak" and nature and it's beauty are being forgotten. My children sat enthralled in it as we talked about what the message was and why it's important to run in the grass and notice & care for our natural surroundings and the creatures that live within it before they are lost completely.
If you are after a novel or a good chunky read , This is not the book to pick .... this is simply a large piece of beautiful Poetry & Artwork with a message that needs to be heard in this technology heavy age. Thoroughly Loved it !!
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