By Paul Fleischman
Published by Candlewick Press
“Are you a word person? A curiosity seeker? An explorer? Take a look at these twenty-six extraordinary individuals for whom love of language is an extreme sport.
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Step right up and read the genuine stories of writers so intoxicated by the shapes and sound of language that they collected, dissected, and constructed verbal wonders of the most extraordinary kind.
A love letter to all those who love words, language, writing, writers, and stories, Alphamaniacs is a stunningly illustrated collection of mini-biographies about the most daring and peculiar of writers and their audacious, courageous, temerarious way with words.
Find ALPHAMANIACS at local independent book stores, through IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or in your local library.
FOR EDUCATORS: Stay tuned for activities and educator guides.
“The ebullient charms both of Fleischman’s breezy accounts and of the work of those profiled are considerable...for anyone who enjoys words, or books themselves, there’s much to love here in the catalog of serious and silly ways in which language and letters have been deployed, reworked, analyzed, and improved on. The backmatter includes source notes and a list of resources for “Further Entertainment.” Marvelously diverting.”
“The stories...are told in a playful, conversational style, supplemented by Sweet’s gorgeous mixed- media illustrations that, along with an attractive layout and high-quality paper, result in a beautiful object of a book...an alluring gift for dedicated word nerds.”
“Each individual is given a brief chapter recounting their word-related exploits, interleaved with colorful, collaged illustrations by Sweet that look like stray pages from an artist’s overstuffed sketchbook, incorporating relevant quotes and amplifying Fleischman’s themes of abundance and possibility. A unique amalgam, one that will charm many.”
