Books for Homeschoolers, in Review: Vocabulary Cartoons

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

18 Dec 2006 08:08 PM

Before I began homeschooling years ago, I read about 30 books on homeschooling and related subjects. From the time I made the decision to homeschool in January, until I started in June, I had read enough to feel like I knew what I was doing. The first book I am going to review for you is for both homeschoolers and traditionally schooled kids alike. Even adults will enjoy it. It is called, Vocabulary Cartoons.

The book, Vocabulary Cartoons, claims that your children will "learn a word a minute and never forget it." The book is exactly as described in the title. Each page is a cartoon that demonstrates a vocabulary word in a visual manner.

For example, on page 167, the vocabulary word is "pacify: To have a calming effect." It also says, "Sounds like pacifier". The cartoon shows two frames. The first frame shows a baby crying, and the second shows a relaxed baby with a pacifier in his mouth and a dream cloud over his head with a saw cutting wood. (I guess to signify a snoring sound). The caption underneath says, "Pacifiers are great for pacifying crying babies. There are a few more sentences on the page that uses the words pacify, pacifies, and pacifist in a sentence.

In another example, found on page 198, the word belittle is demonstrated. Belittle is defined as "to speak of or think of as unimportant; to put someone down." We are reminded that it "sounds like little". The cartoon shows a teacher yelling at a child and waving a ruler, with classmates pointing and laughing. Meanwhile the child has shrunk and is little. While I am reliving catholic school and being re-traumatized by merely looking at it, I must admit it is a memorable cartoon. The caption says, "Johnny felt little when Miss Tronkin scolded and belittled him. The word belittle and belittled are also used in sentences at the bottom of the page.

In addition to the cartoons that vividly demonstrates vocabulary words, there are also chapter reviews that will test if you have actually learned what you have seen/read. My 12-year-old son is currently using this book and he says, "This book is silly, but it makes vocabulary easy to learn." My daughter is getting it next. If you have children in upper elementary or middle school, I recommend you get buy it too.

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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