A really short history of wordsAdapted from 'Mother Tongue' this illustrated book by Bill Bryson tells the story of English, from the first words ever spoken to the very first dictionaries. Perfect for ages 8 to 80!

in dinosaur times sitting down hadn't been invented

the girl does not feel lonely

Or is he just another paranoid ex-spook left out in the cold

Her father's life had been a study in borders - exiled from Romania during the war

every meal and every taste

The unspoken rules for how women should behave in the workplace are as numerous as they are confusing

and gradually becomes aware that he is some kind of genius

which was what came next for them

He kills the assassin and undermines Death so much so that he starts drinking

Barry and Preston

He offers studious reflections on the game and his groundbreaking approach to motivation

Plokhy masterfully illustrates the drama of those tense days