In an age where information is quickly and readily available, why do we still need print dictionaries? When we can access knowledge instantly, it’s easy to overlook the benefits of searching through a print dictionary. However, print dictionaries offer an abundance of literacy-boosting benefits for children, including age-appropriate definitions, realistic sentence examples, and an opportunity to have important conversations about words and their meanings.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 20 children’s dictionaries that are sure to nurture an avid reader.
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First Dictionaries for Young Children
There they are: 20 of the best dictionaries for kids! Which one of these have you used? What did I miss?
Oxford First Dictionary
Published: January 1, 2018
Tailored to meet the needs of budding readers, this dictionary will surely build a love of words. Colorful illustrations and information on shapes, numbers, alphabets, the body, and seasons. This book is also available in paperback and is a perfect addition to home libraries.
My First 1000 Words
Published: September 5, 2018
This dictionary has 1,000 vibrant photos, making it the ideal book for toddlers and babies to learn simple words, build a robust vocabulary, and develop observational skills. Letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and opposites are only some of the myriad topics featured in this dictionary.
First 100 Animals
Published: January, 2006
Babies and toddlers are naturally drawn to animals, and this dictionary features 100 critters that children will love. This durable, oversized board book has a padded cover, perfect for little hands.
My First 100 Technology Words
Published: April 7, 2020
Tech-saavy parents will love this tech-specific dictionary, which includes 100 basic technology terms and bright illustrations. From computers to flying, from electronics to medicine, from automotive technology to scientific and more, this is the bright and simple introduction to the smart words every budding scholar needs!
Merriam-Webster’s First Dictionary
Published: March 15, 2021
This first dictionary is a fun approach to discovering new words. This updated edition includes 1,000 entries and hundreds of captivating illustrations by beloved children’s illustrator Ruth Heller. Aside from exploring different words, this dictionary teaches kids basic dictionary skills and encourages language exploration.
Best Dictionaries for Elementary & Middle School
Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary
Published: October 6, 2023
This newly revised dictionary is an excellent tool that children need to build vocabulary, comprehend spelling, and better understand the world around them. Readers will discover the meanings of over 37,000 words and phrases including newly added words across a variety of fields including climate change, emoji, GIF, toggle, and vegan. Many of the entries are enriched with nearly 1,300 quotes from classic and contemporary children’s literature.
Scholastic Children’s Dictionary
Published: September 3, 2019
If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, check out this great resource. The Scholastic Children’s Dictionary the only book on the list that also features a thesaurus, grammar guide, punctuation guide, idioms guide, and a geography section. This recently updated edition features hundred of new words and contemporary terms.
Oxford Children’s Thesaurus
Published: May 7, 2015
Oxford always does a great job of providing resourceful dictionaries for kids. The Oxford Children’s Thesaurus contains over 45,000 synonyms with age-appropriate examples and opposites. We especially loved how the book features overused words and their alternatives. Writing tips offer kids advice and even more vocab options. This dictionary is ideal for kids aged 8-12 years.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words
Published: April 30, 2019
For wordsmiths looking for a dictionary full of challenging words, this book is the perfect choice. It contains over 400 words that are difficult to spell and hard to say! However, lexicographer Jane Solomon does a great job of simplifying the definitions of these words so children understand. This dictionary is a must-have for classic word games.
Scholastic Pocket Dictionary of Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms
Published: July 1, 2012
This portable dictionary is perfect for middle school students. With more than 12,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms at their fingertips, this book is a great reference for young writers and English Language learners of all ages.
Children’s Dictionary: 3,000 Words, Pictures, and Definitions
Published: November 20, 2018
Appropriate for grades 2-6 (4-9 years), this children’s dictionary does a great job of instilling better vocabulary for everyday interactions. Filled with colorful pictures and illustrations, young children and students will find the words in this book ideal and easy to comprehend. It is the ideal resource to guide learners in their first steps through the English language.
Children’s Illustrated Thesaurus
Published: June 6, 2017
The Children’s Illustrated Thesaurus is a great addition to any reader’s library. Recommended for kids aged 9 years and older, this comprehensive dictionary contains more than four thousand entries, each supported by age-appropriate definitions and valuable sample sentences to boost kids’ confidence in using and choosing words. It offers a foundation for learning word types.
Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids
Published: February 25, 2020
This dictionary helps kids understand the meanings of various words, how to spell them, and the building blocks that make up words. It also uses easy-to-understand language and incorporates origin stories, making it a great resource for kids who want to explore the evolution of the English language and its vocabulary.
The American Heritage Children’s Dictionary
Published: July 17, 2018
The American Heritage Children’s Dictionary is ideal for kids aged 8-12 years (grade 3-6). It is packed with information, making for a great addition to any curriculum. It features age-appropriate vocabulary, easy-to-understand definitions, lively example sentences, and delightful color images. It also has note boxes which highlight quotations selected from popular and classic young adult and children’s literature and show key vocabulary words in context. This visually appealing dictionary is a solid choice for parents seeking to enhance their children’s learning experience.
Spelling, Rhyming, and Other Specific-Focus Dictionaries
Oxford Children’s Rhyming Dictionary
Published: September 1, 2014
It is never too late to introduce your little one to the beauty of poetry. This colorful dictionary contains alphabetical words that rhyme with a list of sounds, making it easy for kids to identify rhymes while building on their spelling skills. The final pages of this dictionary have highly engaging activities that offer invaluable descriptions of different types of rhymes, from raps and chants to limericks and couplets, to help children understand different varieties of poetry.
Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms
Published: July 1, 2006
Understanding idioms has never been easier. Designed for kids 8+ years, this dictionary highlights more than 700 common American phrases, sayings, and expressions. It provides origin and explanations for various idiomatic expressions and kid-friendly sample sentences. The alphabetical listing and cross-referencing index offer a quick way for readers to find idioms. This dictionary takes a fun approach to learning thanks to Marvin Terban’s amusing but educational entries.
French-English Picture Dictionary
Published: November 20, 2003
Are your kids interested in learning French? This bilingual dictionary offers a fun way for English-speaking children to build their French vocabulary skills. The colorful pictures are labeled with English words and their French equivalent and are accompanied by their phonetic spellings.
Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary
Published: September 1, 2016
The Roald Dahl Dictionary is not your normal dictionary. Rather, this unique book focuses on the words that Dahl used in his books–both real and imaginary. Kids will love learning the meanings behind words like “scrumdiddlyumptious”, “frobscuttle”, and “whizpopper”! Roald Dahl fans and lovers of language will delight in this totally unique dictionary.
Space Dictionary for Kids
Published: September 3, 2021
The Space Dictionary for Kids is a great resource for teachers and students in the upper elementary range. This dictionary has illustrated definitions of the solar system, stars and galaxies, cosmology, space exploration, and exoplanets and astrobiology. Every page has a sidebar that offers additional information on the topic of space with examples, diagrams, and quizzes to enhance comprehension.
Scholastic Dictionary of Spelling
Published: July 1, 2006
Proper spelling is an integral part of mastering any language, so this dictionary is a great resource. With instructions for looking up a word the reader does not necessarily know how to spell, more than 150 tricks to correct commonly misspelled words, and clear spelling rules, your young writer will become a more confident speller.
Now that we’ve shared our list of the 20 best children’s dictionaries, we’re curious: do your children or students use print dictionaries? Which ones are your favorite?
What do you think? Leave a comment