{"title":"Jess Zafarris","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJess Zafarris\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts delightfully quirky books that invite readers into the fascinating world of language and history with a playful twist. From curious miscellanies to explorations of etymology, her works blend humour with education, making each page an engaging discovery for readers of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're drawn to witty insights or tales behind words, Jess Zafarris’ writing sparks curiosity and entertains with clever observations and unexpected facts. Her accessible style suits both young minds and lifelong learners eager to explore language’s quirky corners.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"words-from-hell-by-jess-zafarris-9781399808217","title":"Words from Hell","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A fiendishly good read!\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe English language is where words go to be tortured and mutilated into unrecognisable shadows of their former selves. It's where Latin, Greek, and Germanic roots are shredded apart and stitched unceremoniously back together with misunderstood snippets of languages snatched from the wreckage of conquest and colonialism. It wreaks merciless havoc upon grammar and spelling. It turns clinical terms into insults and children's tales into filthy euphemisms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith an emphasis on understanding where the foulest words in the English language came from—and the disgusting and hilarious histories behind them—\u003cem\u003eWords from Hell\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates the true filth of our everyday words. But this book is more than just a list of vulgar words and salacious slang. It's a thoughtful analysis of why we deem words as being inappropriate, as well as revealing 'good words' that have surprisingly naughty origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDirty-minded word nerds and lewd linguistics lovers will derive unadulterated pleasure in leering at the origins of swear words, sexual lingo, inappropriate idioms, violent vocabulary, and terminology for bodily functions—not to mention the unexpectedly foul origins of words you thought were perfectly innocent. If it's inappropriate, stomach-churning, uncomfortable, or offensive, this book reaches into the dark recesses of history and exposes them for all to see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrue to the Chambers brand, this book combines humour, scholarly research, and a beautiful design. It is a book to enjoy, collect and revisit time and time again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46362743865580,"sku":"9781399808217","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/10450233482686.jpg?v=1744596472"},{"product_id":"once-upon-a-word-by-jess-zafarris-9781646112593","title":"Once Upon a Word","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere do words come from? Teaching kids ages 9 to 12 vocabulary through word origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe English language is made up of words from different places, events, and periods of time. Each of those words has an exciting story to tell us about where, when, how, and why they came about. \u003cem\u003eOnce Upon a Word\u003c\/em\u003e is packed with easy-to-understand definitions and awesome word origin stories. With this dictionary for kids, you can understand the history and meaning of English words, improve your vocabulary and spelling, and learn to play with language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore how weird words like \"gnome\", fun words like \"zombie\", and common words like \"caterpillar\" came to exist. Discover why some words sound funnier than others (like \"cackle\", \"sizzle\", and \"twang\") and why some groups of words start with the same few letters (like \"hydrate\", \"hydrogen\", and \"fire hydrant\"). In this dictionary for kids, there's a whole world of English words to uncover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis unique dictionary for kids includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoots \u0026amp; branches\u003c\/strong\u003e—Learn about the building blocks that make up words, called roots, prefixes, and suffixes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKid-friendly definitions\u003c\/strong\u003e—Look up definitions designed for your reading level in this dictionary for kids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWord tidbits\u003c\/strong\u003e—Find out where your favourite food words got their start, from bacon to marshmallow, spaghetti, yogurt, and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSee how the English language evolved with this colourful dictionary for kids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46694406029548,"sku":"9781646112593","price":40.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/1944473482774.jpg?v=1753580926"},{"product_id":"useless-etymology-by-jess-zafarris-9781399809184","title":"Useless Etymology","description":"\"A burst of delight on every page!\"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eMignon Fogarty, host of the Grammar Girl podcast\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDid you know that an \"astronaut\" is literally a \"star sailor,\" that a thesaurus is, in fact, a \"treasure\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003etrove\" of words, and that someone who is \"sinister\" is actually just \"left-handed\"?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003eHave you ever wondered why English isn't considered a Romance language if 60% of our\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003ewords are Latin-derived?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003eDid Shakespeare really invent 1,700 words, and if not, why the heck do we say that he did?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003eWhy is the English language stuffed with so many synonyms?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLet's be real: English can seem pretty bonkers. And, well, sometimes it is. But through thorough thought and a pinch of curiosity, method can be found within the madness of our modern tongue-even within the disparate pronunciation of the words \"through,\" \"thorough,\" and \"thought.\"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  Derived from Germanic, Romance, Hellenic, Semitic, African and Native American languages, English contains multitudes. It has been (and continues to be) transformed by war and conquest, art and literature, science and technology, love and hate, wit and whim.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ci\u003eUseless Etymology\u003c\/i\u003e takes readers on a time-traveling adventure to unlock the beauty, wonder, and absurdity within our everyday words, how they came to be, and the unexpected ways their origins weave a global, cross-cultural labyrinth of meaning.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFilled with fun facts and delightful discoveries, this is an enlightening read for anyone who wants to know more about why the English language works the way that it does.","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47289186517228,"sku":"9781399809184","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/10459903482686.jpg?v=1770588634"},{"product_id":"into-the-words-by-jess-zafarris-9781399821223","title":"Into the Words","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhich animal holds the record for having the most common names?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen and why did we stop calling giraffes \"camel-leopards\"?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDo mushrooms have anything to do with mush or rooms?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhy are dandelions named after lions' teeth?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHow should you \u003ci\u003ereally\u003c\/i\u003e pluralise \"octopus\"?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFind out how and why raccoons are named after their hands, squirrels after their tails, and olives after their oil. Discover why \"dog\" is an etymological mystery and \"bear\" contains a hair-raising horror story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollow trails of word history in the etymological excursion that is \u003ci\u003eInto the Words\u003c\/i\u003e. This book puts the fun in fungi, leaves language lovers contemplating the forest for its trees, and reveals the wonderful stories hiding in our words for birds, beasts, insects, flowers, soil, and everything in between.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing the origins of the names of different organisms, this book will captivate anyone who revels in both the glorious chaos and logic of the English language and the beauty and majesty of everything that lives on planet Earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47480067784940,"sku":"9781399821223","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399821223-into-the-words.jpg?v=1775604151"},{"product_id":"a-miscellany-of-weird-and-wonderful-facts-for-curious-humans-who-have-nothing-better-to-do-than-read-by-shannon-miller-9781964487328","title":"A Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts for Curious Humans Who Have Nothing Better to Do Than Read","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts\u003c\/em\u003e is the ultimate collection for curious minds who love to discover unexpected facts at every turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis playful, engaging collection of intriguing information is perfect for dipping into at a moment's notice. With a mix of history, science, pop culture, and quirky trivia, \u003cem\u003eA Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts\u003c\/em\u003e delivers an eye-popping array of little-known information that will make readers think, cringe, and marvel at the oddities of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis book features fascinating lists, unusual facts, and the kind of trivia readers will love. Every page offers something new: from secret government programs and forgotten world-changing inventions to biological mysteries and natural events that defy the laws of science. Scattered throughout are special word origin notes, shedding light on the often surprising histories of everyday words and expressions. 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