The art of words by Robert Vescio and Joanna Bartel

Whether spoken, shouted, murmured or just thought; whether written, read, screened or viewed, we are surrounded by words. Words that are big, little, shortened, extended, kind, hurtful, colourful or ugly. Words that ask questions, shout out loud or tell us to pause - our lives are dependent on our need to communicate and for that we need words.

Vescio, who has proven to be a master in saying so much with so few words, and Bartel, who has interpreted his words with the most exquisitely appropriate illustrations, have crafted a celebration of these most abstract yet concrete necessities. We celebrate a child's first words from just a couple in the first twelve months to an exponential growth by the time they start school. In fact, the NSW Department of Education has declared vocabulary to be "the greatest predictor of success in literacy" so what better tool to inspire the study and development of words than a book about them. The possibilities are endless but if you're stuck there are teachers' notes available.

"Words string together like droplets of dew on a silky web and shape the heart with happiness through stories one word at a time" and on a cold, frosty, foggy morning this book has lifted mine.

Barbara Braxton