Ounce Dice Trice

Early in December I was listening to the radio and Daniel Pinkwater was giving a review of a book. He has written several children's books and I generally enjoy his perspective. Well, he was just having the greatest time telling about a book entitled, Ounce Dice Trice. I felt like I was on a roller coaster with him. This is a book that is "an odd collection of words and names, to amuse and amaze you." The words have been chosen for the sound and feel of them in your mouth when you say them, or their purely descriptive nature, or simply for the fun you can have with them (a page is devoted to words that sound funny when read backwards).

The whole book is about playing with and delighting in words. I am the first to admit that I am a word nut and I always have been. Needless to say, when I heard the review I had to order the book which was, surprisingly, on backorder. When it arrived, I was taken aback a little. The book has an unusual appearance and the illustrations were oddly intriguing. I began looking at the copyright page and was surprised to find the book had been published in 1958!

The book is great fun and I plan to share parts of it with my students from time to time.