# What's a good dictionary for children?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 25, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476 "2007-05-25T13:00:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476/1 "2007-05-25T13:00:27Z")

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My 5 1/2 year old is asking for definitions more and more these days. Yesterday, he asked what “offensive” means (Don Imus got fired for saying something offensive about brown people). A couple of days ago it was “marooned” (_see_ **Pirates Don’t Change Diapers** by Melinda Long and David Shannon). We can give him a definition in our own words, or pull out the Webster’s, or the 2-volume OED, but the books define words with words that then have to be defined.

So I’m looking for a dictionary that’s more his speed. I’m hesitant about picture dictionaries because I’m afraid they won’t grow with him (although Amazon lists the Scholastic and American Heritage Picture Dictionaries as good for ages 4-8), but I’m wondering if something like Merriam Webster Children’s Dictionary might be too much, even though he’s pretty bright. Do any of you have a children’s dictionary you can recommend?

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**Author:** ![badkittypriestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@badkittypriestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badkittypriestess)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476/2 "2007-05-25T14:38:16Z")

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Our 8 year old has one that is called The American Heritage First Dictionary by Houghton Mifflin. Now he doesn’t use it but some day he may. It’s new and up-to-date and I think we got it at Barnes and Noble?? Good pics and not too big on the lettering. There is a lot of pics too and pretty informational. I hope that helps! 🙂

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**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476/3 "2007-05-25T17:10:01Z")

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Thanks! I’ll take a look at it.

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**Author:** ![badkittypriestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@badkittypriestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badkittypriestess)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-dictionary-for-children/405476/4 "2007-05-25T21:08:17Z")

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Glad to be of help! I hope it will work, if not go to a book store and ask which one would work for a 5 1/2 yr. old that could grow with him. 🙂