Books with author Rosalie Baker

What's in a word? A lot, as IN A WORD tells us! Words travel through time and evolve—-taking on new characteristics, new meanings, and providing fascinating tales of people, places, and times long ago. Each entry of IN A WORD tells its tale in a witty short-story style, often accompanied by fun illustrations.Though several of the entries in the book provide the kind of linguistic details found in the finest dictionaries, IN A WORD's lively, anecdotal style makes it more entertaining than a traditional reference book. It's a perfect addition to any family home, or as a gift.The book also comes with a language chart and index. With an introduction by a linguistics scholar.

"As for life, it is a battle and a journey in a strange land."--Emperor Marcus AureliusSeeking to control an empire that spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond, the ancient Romans developed a distinctive culture in which they adapted many Greek ideas and styles but also created a wealth of new ones. The Roman heritage continues to affect our architecture, government, military, language, laws, and literature.Ancient Romans chronicles the lives and accomplishments of Roman figures whose influence continues to be felt today. We read about Romans from all walks of life, from the rebel gladiator Spartacus to the poets, historians, and playwrights who documented Roman life, to the many emperors (and some of their wives) who governed the empire. In 46 essays, Rosalie and Charles Baker explore the lives of these fascinating personalities, from the most famous Romans to people who are usually overlooked, including:* Juvenal, a master satirist who ridiculed Rome as a haven for crime, free spending, and other social evils* Livia, wife of Rome's first emperor (Augustus), mother of Rome's second (Tiberius), and grandmother of Rome's fourth (Claudius)* Mark Antony, the general and statesman whose life and romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra have been re-created throughout history by writers and actors* Virgil, the poet who composed the Aeneid, the national epic of Rome* Cicero, the statesman, lawyer, and orator* Nero, who became emperor at age 16 and went on to rebuild Rome after a disastrous fire and to foster peace throughout his empireThe biographies span the years 396 B.C. to A.D. 410. Each includes a handy fact box that lists birth and death dates and the major accomplishments of each person profiled. In addition, abundant illustrations and specially commissioned maps, an appendix chronicling the lives of legendary heroes and heroines of early Rome, a table of Roman emperors and their reigns, a family tree that traces the Julian and Claudian families, a timeline, a glossary of Roman terms, an index of Romans by profession, and suggestions for further reading all add to the usefulness of this exceptional reference. With figures from fields as diverse as literature, politics, the military, and philosophy, Ancient Romans provides a comprehensive examination of the origins of modern civilization.

Words are slippery things! But once you grab hold of them, they can tell you amazing tales. In a Word: 750 Words and Their Fascinating Stories and Origins is packed with hundreds of these slippery creatures we call words. Each word or phrase that we use today had a beginning—and a story behind it. In fact, many current words date back to ancient times. Some keep the same meaning from Day One. Other words, however, evolve over time—taking on new characteristics, new meanings, and fascinating tales of people, places, and times long ago.In a Word collects dozens of these tales and follows words through their many changes. Did you know...• that your belt “buckle” has more to do with the hat on your head than keeping your pants up?• that a “baker’s dozen” has more to do with theft than an extra doughnut? • that “comets” were thought to be stars with long hair? • that the “sandwich” you ate for lunch comes from British royalty? • that the “planets” are named for the gods of ancient Rome?With thousands of interesting details, In a Word unravel word origins from all over the world. Each entry or phrase is also placed into a subject category, making it easier to discover its meaning. Humorous illustrations showcase many of the words’ visual connections. Altogether, In a Word is a useful and fun journey into the heart of our language.

Ever use the expression "the big cheese"? Perhaps a friend used that phrase to refer to you? Wonder who first used the expression . . . and why . . . and when? Well, read on, Say What? has the answers—along with fun-to-read histories of more than 100 expressions in common use today. Drawn from the popular CALLIOPE world history magazine for kids department "Fun With Words," Say What is a fascinating read and a great source of fun facts for young readers interested in the roots and origins of expressions.

The ultimate who's who of ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptians is an engaging look at the ancient world through its important leaders. Included are biographies of:* The magnificent Imhotep, who set the standard for pyramid-building* Nefertiti, the renowned beauty* Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid* Hatshepsut, a woman pharaoh who defied tradition and called herself "king"* Tutankhamun, whose tomb unveiled fantastic riches* Rameses the Great, the last majestic king of ancient Egypt* Ptahhotep, the great thinker and statesman for King IzeziAncient Egyptians reveals how Egyptian society was constructed, its religions, burial rituals, architecture, and the history and practices of archaeology that have brought all this information to light.

The ultimate who's who of ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptians is an engaging look at the ancient world through its important leaders. Included are biographies of:* The magnificent Imhotep, who set the standard for pyramid-building* Nefertiti, the renowned beauty* Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid* Hatshepsut, a woman pharaoh who defied tradition and called herself "king"* Tutankhamun, whose tomb unveiled fantastic riches* Rameses the Great, the last majestic king of ancient Egypt* Ptahhotep, the great thinker and statesman for King IzeziAncient Egyptians reveals how Egyptian society was constructed, its religions, burial rituals, architecture, and the history and practices of archaeology that have brought all this information to light.

Each word or phrase used today had a beginning - a reason for being coined. Words travel through time and evolve, taking on new characteristics, new meanings, and fascinating tales of people, places, and events. Applaud, for example, goes back to ancient Rome, when an actor would turn to the audience and demand Plaudite! (Clap!) This fun book contains 750 word origins written in a witty short-story style. Many of the words are accompanied by P.S.'s, that provide details about a word's history and usage. Witty illustrations by Tom Lopes showcase many of the words' visual connections. The book comes with a language chart, an index, and an introduction by a linguistics scholar.