Recently the teachers here at the Oasis were asked to recommend a picture dictionary for use in reading classes. We examined five possibilities, taking each into classrooms to see how they fared. By a wide margin, the favorite of both teachers and students was Scholastic’s First Picture Dictionary.

The book contains over 800 words, all of which are illustrated in a colorful, simple manner. The words are categorized as follows: our bodies, the house, to school, in the city, shopping, and nature. Each section begins with a two-page spread which contains an activity as well as a see-through page which can be flipped from side to side and changes the look of the page which it overlays. (This feature was especially popular with students.) Additionally, each division has a side border which allows viewers to see at a glance in which section they are.

The teacher reviewers especially liked the spiral binding which allows the book to lay flat. More importantly, however, they thought words chosen for illustration were "just right" for beginning readers. An easy-to-use index is appended.

Highly recommended. Suitable for district-wide purchase.

Reviewed by the teachers at Education Oasis.