Danny is greedy and spoilt - he already has so many toys there is no space in his room. When he sends Santa a long list for Christmas, St Nick decides to teach him a lesson. Dinah is having a bad day — nothing seems to be going right: Lars Joachim Grimstad Translator: Don Bartlett and Sian Mackie Publisher: This enjoyable and very funny story of adventure and intrigue is a brilliantly witty political satire appealing to a wide age range from early teens to adult.
Nine-year-old Mafalda has a degenerative eye condition. She starts to keep a list of all the things she'll miss when her sight goes, but also the constants that surround her. Tender and thought-provoking, with a powerful but unforced message. In this lively and atmospheric tale of s New York, party girl Evie finds herself investigating a sinister string of occult murders.
The valley was a picture of harmony until the dog appeared and ate everything up. A sensitive and fascinating portrayal of how Christmas might be experienced by a boy on the autistic spectrum, and how a therapy dog provides reassurance and helps him enjoy the festive season. Spooky and atmospheric, The Dogs is everything you could want from a murder mystery and ghost story. Doll Karolina is saved from war in her native Land of the Dolls and transported to Poland to live with a man known as the Dollmaker - only for their lives to be turned upside down by World War II.
An unusual novel blending reality with folklore and fantasy that will have a lasting impact on readers. There's a Dickensian flavour to this satisfying time-travel tale, which takes its teenage hero on a journey from gritty modern-day London, to the city of the s. Jenny Valentine presents another enthralling, perplexing and thought-provoking novel exploring family, friendship and identity.
Sally Gardner lives up to her reputation for delivering ambitious and highly imaginative writing for teenagers in this unusual and complex historical novel. Peanut butter sandwich Nancy McNutty must battle a giant killer doughnut in this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek picture book full of puns and spot-the-joke illustration.
An uplifting story about a timid baby dragon and a friendly young knight who discover they have much more in common than people think - and refuse to fight. Freya Hartas chapter headings Publisher: When spirited young dragon Aventurine is tricked into drinking some enchanted hot chocolate, she is turned into a human girl. Dragons, magic and chocolate combine in this captivating fantasy adventure. In this collection of 11 stories about Vikings, you will encounter sailors, traders and explorers. It had sounded so easy: Edward was going to look after Uncle Morton's unusual pet for a week while he went on holiday.
But soon the fridge is empty, the curtains are blazing, and the postman is fleeing down the garden path. An exceptional debut novel that is packed with adventure, magic and humour. Emigrating to America, a girl loses the trunk that contains her beloved dress. The dress then embarks on an epic around-the-world journey to find her. A poetic and exquisitely illustrated story about love, loss, the passing of time and the power of memory. Life" series, which focuses on musical instruments from around the world, created by award-winning picture book author and artist Ken Wilson-Max.
In this book, we meet the drum. Seventeen year old Bianca believes her friends are all much more attractive to boys than she is herself.
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Wesley, a boy whom she hates, confirms this when he tells her she is 'The Duff' - the designated ugly fat friend chosen by other girls to draw attention to themselves. Lynne Reid Banks Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books. Paul Hansen must follow the dangerous Eagle Trail through the Pyrenees Mountains to get to England and escape Nazi persecution in this well-researched historical drama. Learn about the inner workings of our earth, including earthquakes, volcanoes, thunderstorms and tsunamis; animal life on earth; the earth regions and the impact of humans on the planet, including information on migration, population and sustainability in this comprehensive hardback book celebrating the biodiversity and structure of this fascinating planet.
Engaging, harrowing and thought-provoking, this is a story that should not be forgotten. Danny and his mother Cathy are on the run from her abusive boyfriend, Chris. They go back to the Edge, Cathy's childhood home, which she left after having Danny at the age of sixteen.
The first book of The Edge Chronicles which sees Twig start his quest to find out who he really is. Cade and his friends are forced into action to defend their beloved home; they must summon the combined forces of the Deadwoods to repel the force of their enemies.
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A storm is brewing far in the open sky, headed straight for the floating city of Sanctaphrax. But, when Twig has lost his memory of being warned of this catastrophe, he must find his crew and save the day. The second part of the Twig Saga follows Twig as he joins the crew of the Stormchaser in a dangerous quest to collect stormphrax to save the floating city of Sanctaphrax.
Fleeing the scene of his father's murder in the city of Great Glade, Cade Quarter smuggles himself onto the Xanth Filatine , a floating skytavern that journeys over the vast landscape of The Deadwoods. A mythic-feeling story about a girl who lives on the flat marshes, fishing for eels, and soon befriends an otter that will help her flee danger.
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Professor Ohms, a scientific detective, takes you on a journey of discovery around the periodic table. Packed with many weird and wonderful facts, it's perfect for any aspiring scientists or detectives! One day, an elephant offers a baby a ride through the town, and the set off on a great adventure. Who is the culprit? This is a magnificent magical mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end about who the culprit might be. This story provides an engaging context in which much wider, complex environmental issues are explored.
A foolish greedy lion and a disloyal crocodile are two of the animals who get their just deserts in this quirky and beautifully-presented collection of traditional Indian folk tales. In a distant future in which wars, riots and environmental crises have changed the world as we know it, year-old Silver is an Elite, specially chosen to guard the city of Neo-Babel. Detailed and original, yet never sacrificing the human story for fantasy, this is a fabulous book that will enchant and inspire.
This new fantasy adventure will appeal to lovers of Narnia and Harry Potter. Readers will enjoy immersing themselves in …. An unusual and atmospheric story set in the run-up to World War II. As London's children prepare for evacuation to the countryside, they are horrified to discover that their beloved pets are due to be put down. The Emperor of Absurdia awakes one morning and can't find his snuggly scarf, so after checking with The Wardrobe Monster, begins to search for it. This is a satirical story about a very vain Emperor who adores beautiful new clothes and has wardrobes full of them!
Marina Le Ray Publisher: The story is told simply, using short sentences and a small number of frequently repeated words. Award-winning writer and director Richard Curtis turns his hand to picture books in this magical festive story, beautifully illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. A magical tale of a little girl whose enduring love brings a very special horse to life. With a traditional feel and timeless quality, it could be a future family favourite.
When Joe, Beth and Frannie move into a new home, they discover a mysterious wood on their very doorstep. When the sickness came, the adults became ill. The lucky ones died but many mutated into brainless, deformed monsters with a seemingly insatiable appetite - for children. In full colour throughout with great, modern design, this book is extremely well written and fun. Every page is full of genuinely fascinating and unusual facts. F C Yee Publisher: An emotionally powerful story about friendship and grief, family and secrets, with a good dose of mystery and a dramatic, race-against-time conclusion.
It's very readable and feels like a future classic. This picture book about a missing toy bear somehow seems like a classic already - with a lovely whiff of nostalgia about it all, while also feeling very current and gently inclusive. The crowds at the Tower of London love nothing better than the grisly spectacle of an execution. But as the executioner's daughter, Moss has seen more than her fair share of horror.
Now, lost in the Amazon rainforest, they must figure out the basics of survival. S M Wilson Publisher: And one is inhabited by vicious, predatory dinosaurs. A tense, brutal fantasy adventure: The Hunger Games meets Jurassic Park. George loves helping out at Wormestall Farm, a secret sanctuary for exinct and mythical beasts, where unlikely things are always happening. An utterly nonsensical but engaging romp through the weirdest town in the world, featuring a warty witch, a creepy scientist, vegetarian piranhas and a dastardly plot that could change the town forever.
M L Peel Illustrator: Fabulous hairdresser to the fairy-tale stars Kittie helps Cinderella meet her Prince in this fun and light-hearted reworking of a favourite fairy story. Eighteenth century Edinburgh and a dark faerie underworld collide in this fast-moving, gripping Steampunk fantasy romance.
Romance, art, monasticism and murder in Umbria, Hoffman has specialised in creating atmospheric historical novels, filled with intrigue Edgar Allan Poe Publisher: This selection of Poe's short fiction demonstrates his intense interest in aesthetic issues and the astonishing power and imagination with which he probed the darkest corners of the human mind.
Adam Epstein and Andrew Jacobson Publisher: Orphaned alley cat Aldwyn is bought by Jack, a likeable young wizard, and has a home and family at last. But when Jack is kidnapped, Aldwyn and his fellow familiars must rescue him. A joyous picture book about the importance of family and all the strength it can give you, this celebrates family in all its wonderful, diverse glory.
The message is subtle, but a crucial one: The Famished Road is the story of a spirit child Azaro. Azaro meaning 'born to die' has been born to his parents many a times only to die shortly after birth. Mammoth has a problem. His tiny friend Bug brings him food, but one gulp later, it's gone - and Mammoth is gloomy and starving, all over again. A charming, comical, rhyming tale of two unlikely friends. John Green tackles the subject of teenage cancer with sensitivity in this witty, life-affirming young adult romance.
Children quake in the darkness as they hear the terrifying roar of the fearsome beastie as it searches for food Jeremy De Quidt Publisher: The first part of J R R Tolkien's epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings , this is the story of young hobbit Frodo Baggins, who finds himself faced with an immense and terrible duty. Dunmore has spun a magical story to show how a small boy in a remote island setting who misses his Dad is reassured by a make-believe trip to visit him in the Far North. Laura McGloughlin from Catalan Publisher: When crisis strikes, a girl convinces her brother that they are the stars of a film to protect him from the harsh realities of their new life.
Darcy might be a dolphin, but her daily life at school and home will be incredibly relatable to primary school children. When Bobby begins a new school and endures sadistic cruelty at the hands of his new teachers, he is drawn away from his old friends and towards newcomer Daniel. Jan Pienkowski's silhouette illustrations lend an air of mystery and drama to this text, taken from the King James Bible.
The message is that working as a team is the best way forward. This book is testament to Blake's belief that all children need to be able find themselves in books. When her new baby brothers are born critically ill, Jess becomes convinced that the strange and beautiful flask in Aunt Edie's desk has the power to help them. Energetic illustrations and some lift-the-flap sections add interest as the humble housefly buzzes through this lively book. But can she really change the future? What will happen when the fourth and final rider appears, will his appearance signal the end of the world?
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This sweet story weaves Morpurgo's effortless storytelling with ancient and very recent history: Leicester City's win of the Premiership title. Beautiful illustrations make it a lovely gift: Told in dual narrative, this story follows Reema and Caylin as they negotiate a shaky friendship: A truly excellent and ultimately uplifting book with plenty of heart. A clever and thoughtful picture book showing how much fun the older generation can be and the valuable contribution they can make to young lives. After the Princess kissed the frog, he turned into a handsome prince, and they lived happily ever after… or did they?
Hannah and her brother Benjy are on holiday. But instead of relaxing, Hannah is terrified: The suspense builds chillingly in this pared-down, atmospheric ghost story. Author James Campbell Illustrator: This outlandish encyclopaedia covers everything a child could ever need to know about pets. Children will get lost in its mix of hilarious pet-related misinformation, trivia and educational facts. At the end of Edward Lear's much loved poem, the happily married Owl and the Pussy-cat are dancing hand-in-hand on the edge of the sand Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson has turned her hand to children's books in this new continuation of Peter Rabbit's adventures.
Alexander Gordon Smith Publisher: Cal, Brick and Daisy are three very different teenagers, living very different lives, but one horrific day they are thrown together in unimaginable circumstances. This gently humorous chapter book was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize ; black and white line drawings add to its appeal and the length is perfect for emerging readers. This lovely new series of baby books includes games with art, patterns and light, all designed to get very young children to have fun with exploring and using their imagination.
This pacy coming-of-age adventure concentrates on the private hopes, dreams and feelings that drive its characters along, but also keeps enough sense of the gritty realities of street life. Alfie's parents are very silly, and it's no time at all until young Alfie shows common sense beyond his years. Soon, he is headteacher, town mayor and prime minister of the country - all before his ninth birthday. Giggles and guffaws aplenty. Notorious cheese thief Fingers McGraw is on the run or rather, on the moped from chief law enforcer The Elephant.
Set in s Malaysia, this is the story of seventeen-year-old Li Lan, whose quiet life with her father is dramatically altered when he returns one evening with a proposition for her. Helen Watts and Taffy Thomas Publisher: This slim volume includes 14 'war stories' made up of poems, songs and re-tellings of ghostly sightings and mysterious coincidences, themed around World War One. Jamal wakes to find that everyone in his West African village have been killed. He alone has survived because of how others perceive his epilepsy.
This is a powerful, moving and mesmerising story, set in a violent world and seen through a year-old's eyes. Creakie Hall is falling down but there is no money in the bank so Aunt Gardenia Bogey-Mandeville needs to come up with a money-making scheme pretty quickly The Ghosts of Heaven is an excellent book that will open up new avenues of thought and future reading and introduces teenage readers to a more inventive understanding of storytelling.
Elli Woollard and Benji Davies Publisher: The illustrations brim with jokes and delightful details, the rhyming text is breezy fun, and the line between darkly gruesome and good-hearted is deftly maintained. The children in Miss Honeywood's class decide to grow vegetables in their school garden. What a shock they get when they discover a huge turnip that they are unable to move. Jumbeelia, a young girl giant from Groil, the Land of Giants, loves the stories of the iggly plop who climbed up the bimblestonk and was chased back down again by a giant.
A giant is caught short when his loo roll drops to the floor and rolls away. As it rolls through the town the people make use of the enormous sheets to devise all sorts of useful creations. We are taken right back to the action, with Podkin, his sister Paz and the poor rabbits they rescued sheltering in the Dark Hallow warren.
Everything about this book is exquisite. When seven-year-old Echo, a runaway and thief, is discovered in the library by a mysterious lady covered in feathers her life is changed for ever. This is a book all tween girls should have. Like a chat with a friend with an excellent sense of humour, The Girl Guide is precisely the straight-talking and empowering read girls need at what can be a confusing and awkward time.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave Publisher: When her closest friend disappears into the island's Forgotten Territories, Isabella Riosse volunteers to guide the search. A stunning debut, full of myth, magic and mapmaking. When Wilhelmina Silver's home is sold, she is torn from her best friend, her adopted monkey and her pet horse, and banished to an inhospitable boarding school in England. Catherynne M Valente Publisher: When the Green Wind turns up and carries September away to Fairyland, she soon finds herself battling to stop the evil Marquess.
When babies are left in the forest as an offering, the witch Xan protects them and feeds them on starlight. But one day, Xan feeds a baby the moon by mistake — and fills her with a dangerous amount of magic. A thoughtful book about belonging and fear. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the story of year-old schoolgirl Kazuko, who accidentally discovers that she can leap back and forth in time after a strange encounter with a shadowy figure at school.
Stella sets out to discover if her mother really was a mermaid. Louie is a feisty heroine, loyal to her friends and determined to succeed in this engaging historical adventure. Life is tough in Victorian times, the world into which Alice Peasbody is born - and Alice is a girl with no nose. A wonderful, thoughtful book that teaches compassion, celebrates difference and tackles some weighty issues with a gentle touch. Hollie's hatred of the hair brush results in her tangled curls attracting a range of nesting birds. When mysterious men kidnap her mother, Minnow has to set sail alone for the magical, dangerous and beautiful Wild Deep.
Four friends find a tree that becomes their Secret Meeting Place. As they grow into four very different young women, their friendship stays as strong as the tree. This touching picture book perfectly encapsulates the value and joy of female friendship. After the death of her father, Billie and her mum are moving to a new town for a fresh start.
But the house - or somebody in it - is trying to drive them out. Legend has it that Bonschariant, the demon, haunts a medieval stained glass window and emerges from it to bring death and destruction to anyone who sees him. Jan Pienkowski and David Walser Publisher: A wonderfully entertaining collection of Polish fairy tales, with striking illustration by Pienkowski. Lauren St John Publisher: Part gripping adventure, part love story, this powerful novel travels through an exhilarating yet terrifying landscape. A mountain goat, a girl called Kid and a boy who speaks in spoonerisms are the main characters in this quirky novel about love, fears and friendship.
Surprising, tender and engaging. Al Haji has three wives, seven children and an assortment of animals including five goggle-eyed goats. But his goats eat everything in sight and Al Haji's family have had enough. Matthew has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Can he help an investigation into the abduction of a child, perhaps without even leaving his house?
A captivating read, combining a compelling whodunit with an engaging protagonist. Jesus is a passionate, charismatic preacher, while Christ is his cynical and introspective twin, with an eye for posterity. The finger puppets are back for another adventure. This time the finger puppet experiences various morning rituals: Red Fox Picture Books. In this second adventure in the series, Max and the Goozillas must navigate through the monstrous maze, avoiding the pixelated ghosts. This fast-paced, accessible series will appeal to fans of computer games, comics and all things slimy.
While Max is playing on his favourite game on his tablet, he manages the impossible. With just one sneeze, Max manages to transport himself into the game itself, World of Slime. This gang of slimeballs need Max's help. Their world is being take over by the obnoxiously sweet and fluffy…. Like everyone else in town, River is obsessed with the Graces: But are they really what they seem? A beautifully written, deliciously dark YA fantasy with a fresh take on witches. Orphan Hans is running away from a life of grave-robbing; Countess Angela wants to avoid death at the hands of the evil Archduke and his Necromancer.
Together, can they escape? Ben and his friend Becky work for the Ministry of Pandemonium, guiding recently dead souls safely to the afterlife. But the enemy, the Lords of Sundown, are never far away and have unfinished business. Simon the squirrel and his friends head to outer space in a hot air balloon in this lively picture book. How does the human body develop and change in a lifetime? Hoffman and Asquith explore these questions and more in this honest, entertaining and fact-filled celebration of the human body, which also reflects the diversity of the world we live in.
The simple message is that every family is unique and special and that there is no such thing as "normal" or "abnormal". How are you feeling today? This warm-hearted and thoughtful picture book explores a whole range of emotions that children might experience. The Great Big Green Book is filled with facts about our planet, and asks lots of questions to help children think about green issues. The book also gives simple tips on how you can save the environment. Tom's cat likes to kill small animals. When it kills the Vicar's expensive Koi carp, Mum is so cross that the cat is locked out of the house.
But then it goes missing When the skirting board mice kidnap the ship's cat for a cheese ransom, the pirates are ready for action. An easy-to-read and exciting adventure story, which is perfect for readers starting to read alone. Flamie Oliver is a terrifying dragon with a secret: F Scott Fitzgerald Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Books. But that doesn't stop Anna and her friends from hatching a plan to persuade Mum to let them get a hamster. Shy Eva lives a quiet life with her protective Dad - until the noisy McIntyre family move in next door.
This is an intelligent and entertaining picture book, with unique and fascinating illustrations. Davies attracts young readers with her familiar plot, engaging characters, and understanding of nine year-olds' minds. Nathan Kumar Scott Illustrator: Kanchil, the mouse deer, boasts he is the fastest animal in the forest - but Pelan the snail believes he can beat him in a race. This read-aloud story also provides a great stepping stone for introducing other cultural ideas to young children.
Lou Pine is one hungry wolf who cunjurs up a cunning plan to catch a sheep for his dinner. But the sheep are not as dumb as they first appear… This hilarious romp from the award-winning creators of The Great Dog Bottom Swap , which was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize will have you rolling in laughter. Detective genius, Shelby Holmes, may be small but she comes up trumps when the police are flummoxed by a 'dognapping' in a wealthy part of New York. In the little town of Blackbird Tree, friends and fellow orphans Naomi and Lizzie are startled when a strange boy, Finn, falls out of a tree.
Each story is inspired by a different object from World War I, from a soldier's writing case to the nose of a Zeppelin bomb. Matt Edmondson and Garry Parsons Publisher: A sweet story about believing in yourself with a series of fantastic magic tricks included in various ingenious slots, boxes and envelopes — all engineered to provide an exciting book full of brilliant activities, as well as a storyline. Kitty's predestined role is to marry, have children and keep house, but her dream is to work with horses. So she disguises herself as a boy and runs away to join the circus.
Kitty's story is about following your dreams and staying true to your values. Haifaa Al Mansour Publisher: Wadjda's dream is to ride through Riyadh on a green bicycle. She develops plans, schemes and enlists the help of her friend Abdullah to help her achieve her dream. Benjamin J Myers Publisher: Atmospheric illustrations with a nostalgic feel help build suspense in this delightful rhyming story about how your mind can play tricks on you.
In this much-loved picture book, a little mouse walks through the woods and encounters a fox, an owl and a snake. The ever-popular Gruffalo returns in musical form in this book of songs to sing and play from Julia Donaldson. Five years after the publication of multi award-winning The Gruffalo , author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler return with a much-awaited sequel.
Meet deliciously disgusting duo The Grunts in the first of an irreverent series from Philip Ardagh. Robin Stevens based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd Publisher: When Ted Spark's Aunt Gloria is framed for the theft of a painting from the Guggenheim Museum, he must race through the streets of New York to find the real culprit. An exciting and heartwarming tale from Robin Stevens, continuing the legacy of late author Siobhan Dowd. Deep down, Jonas knew that he shouldn't have taken the gun home: Sam and his new friend Max the Martian decide to steal a diamond from the Tower of London. They need to power Max's spaceship back to Mars, in this exciting tale of bravery and friendship.
Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, the dialogue both believable and accessible, and the plot well paced and worthy of its subject matter. Carol Ann Duffy Illustrator: Bubbling over with humour and life, the poems in The Hat paint pictures, evoke smells, conjure sounds and encapsulate events both contemporary and historical. The Hate U Give is rightly named by many critics as one of the most important books of It's a profound, deeply compelling modern-day classic that explores race in America.
When Jake receives a mysterious text, he assumes his friend Roddy is just playing tricks. But the increasingly desperate messages are from an unknown girl called Alice. And they seem to come from his own phone. Bodley Head Children's Books. The Haunting of Charity Delafield is a heart-warming tale of friendship, family and love with an uplifting, magical twist.
Strong characters, complex relationships, and important themes of family, belonging, identity, love and loneliness, drive this absorbing story of magic and painful family secrets. An inquisitive little girl, who is enchanted by the world around her, is badly shaken when she loses someone she loves. The Hello Atlas is the ideal book for children eager to learn more about the world around them and parents, too.
Teach your little ones useful phrases in over different languages, while finding out more about people from all over the globe. One day, a baboon injures a baby lamb, and as Malusi carries it home, a large car stops.
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Percy has been missing for three days, and Jason has mysteriously found himself transported into the Camp where he grapples with a variety of malevolent supernatural challenges. The sequel to Hidden Among Us, this is an absorbing and chilling tale of magic, love and loyalty and the importance of family. K Sello Duiker Publisher: Part mystery, part quest, this book uses magic realism to tell an absorbing story about friendship and courage, which is filled with talking dogs, renegades who occupy the space between good and bad, and evil night riders that must be defeated.
Ben and his mother's ordinary life is disturbed when Ben receives an invitation to a museum of curiosities. With exquisite descriptions ratcheting up tension along the way, this book will convince you that magic really does exist. A wonderfully imaginative adventure thriller giving an excellent introduction to fantasy fiction. In this exciting installment of the History Keepers series, Jake must embark on risky missions to 18th century Sweden and Ancient Rome.
Melvin Burgess has gained a reputation for dealing with shocking and controversial issues in books like Junk , and The Hit is no exception. K E Ormsbee Publisher: Thirteen-year-old twins, Felix and Lee, live in the same house but lead very separate lives. Skilfully combining a gripping plot, intriguing characters and a convincing alternative world, populated by sinister beings, this is a dark and compelling novel. Stephen Parkin from Italian Publisher: At the age of 12, Idie Grace learns that she has inherited a large estate on Hummingbird Island: Loosely based on the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga, this story is delightfully macabre and utterly engrossing.
A variety of funny, thoughtful, playful and sensual, image-rich poems, probably most suitable for primary school-age children.
Books beginning with: T
It sounds easy enough, but the dog - Streaker - has other ideas. A lone human living among vampires, Gene must contain his emotions and physical reactions to blend in and stay alive. Then he is chosen to participate in The Hunt - a game that threatens to expose his true nature. As a young black boy living in the American Deep South in , expectations for year-old Pip aren't great. Jack, his tutor, soon realises the danger that Pip is in This is a gripping novel looking at a turbulent period of American history. This is an original, heartfelt and powerful story that sensitively looks at issues of loneliness, depression and bullying, but also the power of friendship.
In icy northern lands, a great white bear gives birth to tiny cubs. A F Harrold Illustrator: This is young fiction of the very best quality, showcasing inspiration, inventiveness and an intoxicating passion for storytelling. The Imaginary has the potential to be a family favourite and a future classic. When fate throws together a lonely youngster and an eccentric scientist, the result is an Imagination Box.
Rahul Bery from Spanish Publisher: A coming of age story about chess, tolerance, immigration and what it means to be a true champion. Judit is an year-old girl who lives in Geneva with her mother and grandfather. A keen artist, she draws in charcoals by the giant chess boards in her local park, practicing for a prestigious art competition.
She gradually becomes interested in chess, until o…. In the first book of The Immortals series, find out what Ever will do after discovering she can read auras and hear thoughts. Hector Coleman, your average teenager living a normal boring life in a dull town with, let's face it, a rubbish name. Until he and his mates start genetically mutating Everything that is, other than his rubbish name and his girl troubles, oh and his embarrassingly low number of social media followers.
All those things, unfortunate…. Laurie Halse Anderson Publisher: This is a gripping and powerful story about the effects of PTSD on families as seen through the eyes of a typical teenager. However, his pleasure isn't derived from reading them but from eating them instead, and the more he eats, the smarter he gets. On Maisie's birthday, she finds that her family have disappeared and her house is being consumed by darkness. The first in a four part series, this imaginative and engrossing story is a clever spin on the dystopian genre.
The author expertly creates a believable, alternative world featuring a strong, moral heroine. This book inspired the recent Martin Scorsese film, Hugo. Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and her grandfather, Hugo's undercover life and his most precious secret, are put i…. After Tony moves house, the kitchen in his new place turns into a spaceship called The Invincible.
Amid all the zaniness, there's an important message tucked in here about just trying your best. Subtitled 'a children's story in five nights' this powerful, moving and beautifully-written fable from poet Ted Hughes is a true modern classic. In an American society which unknowingly exists alongside the world of Faerie, dark elves are resentful of humans, and desperate to regain both their eternal life and their kingdom. Mason and the Rainbow Bridge Paula Shene The Shores of Avalon Read more Read less. Our favorite toys for everyone on your list Top Kid Picks.
Kindle Cloud Reader Read instantly in your browser. Product details File Size: April 13, Sold by: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Showing of 1 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. The Rain Cloud's Gift is a gift indeed. This enjoyable gem of a book is filled with various poems and stories for children and adults young at heart.
The eight authors have done an excellent job of creating writings that everyone will treasure for years to come. The cover art and inside illustrations are beautiful. I would like acknowledge the authors by saying awesome job and I look forward to reading more of your works. One person found this helpful. So, on more common occasions: Ye mountains , that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills , like lambs? Tremble, thou earth , at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.
The plural number is that which denotes more than one; as, "The boys learn. The plural number of nouns is regularly formed by adding s or es to the singular: When the singular ends in a sound which will unite with that of s , the plural is generally formed by adding s only , and the number of syllables is not increased: But when the sound of s cannot be united with that of the primitive word, the regular plural adds s to final e , and es to other terminations, and forms a separate syllable: In some languages, as the Greek and the Arabic, there is a dual number, which denotes two , or a pair ; but in ours, this property of words, or class of modifications, extends no farther than to distinguish unity from plurality, and plurality from unity.
It belongs to nouns, pronouns, and finite verbs; and to these it is always applied, either by peculiarity of form, or by inference from the principles of concord. Pronouns are like their antecedents, and verbs are like their subjects, in number. The terminations which always make the regular plural in es , with increase of syllables, are twelve; namely, ce, ge, ch soft, che soft, sh, ss, s, se, x, xe, z , and ze: All other endings readily unite in sound either with the sharp or with the flat s , as they themselves are sharp or flat; and, to avoid an increase of syllables, we allow the final e mute to remain mute after that letter is added: In some instances, however, usage is various in writing, though uniform in speech; an unsettlement peculiar to certain words that terminate in vowels: There are also some other difficulties respecting the plurals of nouns, and especially respecting those of foreign words; of compound terms; of names and titles; and of words redundant or deficient in regard to the numbers.
What is most worthy of notice, respecting all these puzzling points of English grammar, is briefly contained in the following observations. To this rule, the plurals of words ending in quy , as alloquies, colloquies, obloquies, soliloquies , are commonly made exceptions; because many have conceived that the u , in such instances, is a mere appendage to the q , or is a consonant having the power of w , and not a vowel forming a diphthong with the y. See Rule 12th for Spelling. So nouns in i , so far as we have any that are susceptible of a change of number, form the plural regularly by assuming es: Common nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, are numerous; and none of them deviate from the foregoing rule of forming the plural: The termination added is es , and the y is changed into i , according to the general principle expressed in Rule 11th for Spelling.
But, to this principle, or rule, some writers have supposed that proper nouns were to be accounted exceptions. And accordingly we sometimes find such names made plural by the mere addition of an s ; as, "How come the Pythagoras' , [it should be, the Pythagorases ,] the Aristotles , the Tullys , the Livys , to appear, even to us at this distance, as stars of the first magnitude in the vast fields of ether?
This doctrine, adopted from some of our older grammars, I was myself, at one period, inclined to countenance; see Institutes of English Grammar , p. To pronounce the final a flat, as Africay for Africa , is a mark of vulgar ignorance. This class of words being anomalous in respect to pronunciation, some authors have attempted to reform them, by changing the e to y in the singular, and writing ies for the plural: A reformation of some sort seems desirable here, and this has the advantage of being first proposed; but it is not extensively adopted, and perhaps never will be; for the vowel sound in question, is not exactly that of the terminations y and ies , but one which seems to require ee --a stronger sound than that of y , though similar to it.
In words of this class, the e appears to be useful as a means of preserving the right sound of the o ; consequently, such of them as are the most frequently used, have become the most firmly fixed in this orthography. In practice, however, we find many similar nouns very frequently, if not uniformly, written with s only; as, cantos, juntos, grottos, solos, quartos, octavos, duodecimos, tyros. So that even the best scholars seem to have frequently doubted which termination they ought to regard as the regular one. The whole class includes more than one hundred words. Some, however, are seldom used in the plural; and others, never.
Wo and potato are sometimes written woe and potatoe. This may have sprung from a notion, that such as have the e in the plural, should have it also in the singular. But this principle has never been carried out; and, being repugnant to derivation, it probably never will be. The only English appellatives that are established in oe , are the following fourteen: The last is pronounced dip'-lo-e by Worcester; but Webster, Bolles, and some others, give it as a word of two syllables only.
Nay, for lack of a rule to guide his pen, even Johnson himself could not remember the orthography of the common word mangoes well enough to copy it twice without inconsistency. This may be seen by his example from King, under the words mango and potargo. Since, therefore, either termination is preferable to the uncertainty which must attend a division of this class of words between the two; and since es has some claim to the preference, as being a better index to the sound; I shall make no exceptions to the principle, that common nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant take es for the plural.
Murray says, " Nouns which end in o have sometimes es added, to form the plural; as, cargo, echo, hero, negro, manifesto, potato, volcano, wo: This amounts to nothing, unless it is to be inferred from his examples , that others like them in form are to take s or es accordingly; and this is what I teach, though it cannot be said that Murray maintains the principle. These, however, may still be called proper nouns , in parsing; because they are only inflections, peculiarly applied, of certain names which are indisputably such.
So likewise when such nouns are used to denote character: The proper names of nations, tribes , and societies , are generally plural; and, except in a direct address, they are usually construed with the definite article: And those which are only or chiefly plural, have, or ought to have, such terminations as are proper to distinguish them as plurals, so that the form for the singular may be inferred: Here the singular must certainly be a Tungoose. Here the singulars may be supposed to be a Pawnee , an Arrapaho , and a Cumanche. Here all are regular plurals, except the last; and this probably ought to be Natchezes , but Jefferson spells it Natches , the singular of which I do not know.
Sometimes foreign words or foreign terminations have been improperly preferred to our own; which last are more intelligible, and therefore better: As any vowel sound may be uttered with an s , many writers suppose these letters to require for plurals strictly regular, the s only; and to take es occasionally, by way of exception. Others, perhaps with more reason, assume, that the most usual, regular, and proper endings for the plural, in these instances, are ies, oes, and ues: This, I think, is right for common nouns.
How far proper names are to be made exceptions, because they are proper names, is an other question. It is certain that some of them are not to be excepted: So the names of tribes; as, The Missouries , the Otoes , the Winnebagoes. Likewise, the houries and the harpies ; which words, though not strictly proper names, are often written with a capital as such.
Like these are rabbies, cadies, mufties, sophies , from which some writers omit the e. Johnson, Walker, and others, write gipsy and gipsies ; Webster, now writes Gipsey and Gipseys ; Worcester prefers Gypsy , and probably Gypsies: Webster once wrote the plural gypsies ; see his Essays , p. Yet there seems to be the same reason for inserting the e in these, as in other nouns of the same ending; namely, to prevent the o from acquiring a short sound.
Harris says very properly, 'We have our Marks and our Antonies: Whatever may have been the motive for it, such a use of the apostrophe is a gross impropriety. The word India , commonly makes the plural Indies , not Indias ; and, for Ajaxes , the poets write Ajaces.
For example--in speaking of two young ladies whose family name is Bell--whether to call them the Miss Bells , the Misses Bell , or the Misses Bells. To an inquiry on this point, a learned editor, who prefers the last, lately gave his answer thus: This puts the words in apposition; and there is no question, that it is formally correct.
But still it is less agreeable to the ear, less frequently heard, and less approved by grammarians, than the first phrase; which, if we may be allowed to assume that the two words may be taken together as a sort of compound, is correct also. The following quotations show the opinions of some other grammarians: The foregoing opinion from Crombie, is quoted and seconded by Maunder, who adds the following examples: Stone, the editor above quoted, nor would his reasoning apply well to several of their examples.
Yet both opinions are right, if neither be carried too far. For when the words are in apposition, rather than in composition, the first name or title must be made plural, if it refers to more than one: Nor is that which varies the first only, to be altogether condemned, though Dr. Priestley is unquestionably wrong respecting the " strict analogy " of which he speaks. The joining of a plural title to one singular noun, as, " Misses Roy ,"--" The Misses Bell ,"--" The two Misses Thomson ," produces a phrase which is in itself the least analogous of the three; but, " The Misses Jane and Eliza Bell ," is a phrase which nobody perhaps will undertake to amend.
It appears, then, that each of these forms of expression may be right in some cases; and each of them may be wrong, if improperly substituted for either of the others. Sells; the two Miss Browns ; or, without the numeral, the Miss Roys. But in addressing letters in which both or all are equally concerned, and also when the names are different, we pluralize the title , Mr. If we wish to distinguish these Misses from other Misses, we call them the Misses Howard. The elliptical meaning is, the Misses and Messrs, who are named Story. To distinguish unmarried from married ladies, the proper name , and not the title , should be varied; as, the Miss Clarks.
When we mention more than one person of different names, the title should be expressed before each; as, Miss Burns, Miss Parker, and Miss Hopkinson, were present. In the following examples from Pope's Works, the last word only is varied: Three others in fe are similar: These are specific exceptions to the general rule for plurals, and not a series of examples coming under a particular rule; for, contrary to the instructions of nearly all our grammarians, there are more than twice as many words of the same endings, which take s only: The plural of wharf is sometimes written wharves ; but perhaps as frequently, and, if so, more accurately, wharfs.
Nouns in ff take s only; as, skiffs, stuffs, gaffs. But the plural of staff has hitherto been generally written staves ; a puzzling and useless anomaly, both in form and sound: Staffs is now sometimes used; as, "I saw the husbandmen bending over their staffs. In one instance, I observe, a very excellent scholar has written selfs for selves , but the latter is the established plural of self:. The word brethren is now applied only to fellow-members of the same church or fraternity; for sons of the same parents we always use brothers ; and this form is sometimes employed in the other sense.
Dice are spotted cubes for gaming; dies are stamps for coining money, or for impressing metals. Pence , as six pence , refers to the amount of money in value; pennies denotes the corns themselves. This last anomaly, I think, might well enough "be spared; the sound of the word being the same, and the distinction to the eye not always regarded.
In this way, these irregularities extend to many words; though some of the metaphorical class, as kite's-foot, colts-foot, bear's-foot, lion's-foot , being names of plants, have no plural. The word man , which is used the most frequently in this way, makes more than seventy such compounds. But there are some words of this ending, which, not being compounds of man , are regular: Thus we write fathers-in-law, sons-in-law, knights-errant, courts-martial, cousins-german, hangers-on, comings-in, goings-out, goings-forth , varying the first; and manhaters, manstealers, manslayers, maneaters, mandrills, handfuls, spoonfuls, mouthfuls, pailfuls, outpourings, ingatherings, downsittings, overflowings , varying the last.
So, in many instances, when there is a less intimate connexion of the parts, and the words are written with a hyphen, if not separately, we choose to vary the latter or last: The following mode of writing is irregular in two respects; first, because the words are separated, and secondly, because both are varied: Liberator , ix, According to analogy, it ought to be: Wright alleges, that, "The phrase, 'I want two spoonfuls or handfuls ,' though common, is improperly constructed;" and that, "we should say, 'Two spoons or hands full. From this opinion, I dissent: Of the propriety of this, the reader may judge, when I shall have quoted a few examples: Such terms as these, if thought objectionable, may easily be avoided, by substituting for the former part of the compound the separate adjective male or female ; as, male child, male children.
Or, for those of the third example, one might say, " singing men and singing women ," as in Nehemiah , vii, 67; for, in the ancient languages, the words are the same. Alger compounds " singing-men and singing-women. But, in all such cases, I think the hyphen should be inserted in the compound, though it is the practice of many to omit it.
Of this odd sort of words, I quote the following examples from Churchill; taking the liberty to insert the hyphen, which he omits: For, as there ought to be no word, or inflection of a word, for which we cannot conceive an appropriate meaning or use, it follows that whatever is of such a species that it cannot be taken in any plural sense, must naturally be named by a word which is singular only: But there are some things, which have in fact neither a comprehensible unity, nor any distinguishable plurality, and which may therefore be spoken of in either number; for the distinction of unity and plurality is, in such instances, merely verbal; and, whichever number we take, the word will be apt to want the other: It is necessary that every noun should be understood to be of one number or the other; for, in connecting it with a verb, or in supplying its place by a pronoun, we must assume it to be either singular or plural.
And it is desirable that singulars and plurals should always abide by their appropriate forms, so that they may be thereby distinguished with readiness. But custom, which regulates this, as every thing else of the like nature, does not always adjust it well; or, at least, not always upon principles uniform in themselves and obvious to every intellect.
Thus, a council , a committee , a jury , a meeting , a society , a flock , or a herd , is singular; and the regular plurals are councils, committees, juries, meetings, societies, flocks, herds. But these, and many similar words, may be taken plurally without the s , because a collective noun is the name of many individuals together. Hence we may say, "The council were unanimous. Where a purer concord can be effected, it may be well to avoid such a construction, though examples like it are not uncommon: Thus, cattle , for beasts of pasture, and pulse , for peas and beans, though in appearance singulars only, are generally, if not always, plural; and summons, gallows, chintz, series, superficies, molasses, suds, hunks, jakes, trapes , and corps , with the appearance of plurals, are generally, if not always, singular.
Webster says that cattle is of both numbers; but wherein the oneness of cattle can consist, I know not. The Bible says, "God made-- cattle after their kind. Here kind is indeed singular, as if cattle were a natural genus of which one must be a cattle ; as sheep are a natural genus of which one is a sheep: Gillies says, in his History of Greece, " cattle was regarded as the most convenient measure of value. Sheep is not singular, unless limited to that number by some definitive word; and cattle I conceive to be incapable of any such limitation.
Summonses is given in Cobb's Dictionary as the plural of summons ; but some authors have used the latter with a plural verb: Johnson says this noun is from the verb to summon ; and, if this is its origin, the singular ought to be a summon , and then summons would be a regular plural. But this "singular noun with a plural termination," as Webster describes it, more probably originated from the Latin verb submoneas , used in the writ, and came to us through the jargon of law, in which we sometimes hear men talk of " summonsing witnesses.
Chints is called by Cobb a "substantive plural " and defined as "cotton cloths , made in India;" but other lexicographers define it as singular, and Worcester perhaps more properly writes it chintz. Johnson cites Pope as speaking of " a charming chints ," and I have somewhere seen the plural formed by adding es. Walker, in his Elements of Elocution, makes frequent use of the word " serieses ," and of the phrase " series of serieses.
This, however, is no rule for writing English. Blair has used the word species in a plural sense; though I think he ought rather to have preferred the regular English word kinds: Specie , meaning hard money, though derived or corrupted from species , is not the singular of that word; nor has it any occasion for a plural form, because we never speak of a specie.
The plural of gallows , according to Dr. Webster, is gallowses ; nor is that form without other authority, though some say, gallows is of both numbers and not to be varied: Some nouns, because they signify such things as nature or art has made plural or double; some, because they have been formed from other parts of speech by means of the plural ending which belongs to nouns; and some, because they are compounds in which a plural word is principal, and put last, are commonly used in the plural number only, and have, in strict propriety, no singular.
Though these three classes of plurals may not be perfectly separable, I shall endeavour to exhibit them in the order of this explanation. Plurals in meaning and form: Plurals by formation, derived chiefly from adjectives: To these may be added the Latin words, aborigines, antipodes, antes, antoeci, amphiscii, anthropophagi, antiscii, ascii, literati, fauces, regalia , and credenda , with the Italian vermicelli , and the French belles-lettres and entremets.
Of this class are the following: The fact is, that these words have, or ought to have, the singular, as often as there is any occasion to use it; and the same may, in general terms, be said of other nouns, respecting the formation of the plural. But the nature of a mass, or of an indefinite multitude taken collectively, is not found in individuals as such; nor is the name, whether singular, as gold , or plural, as ashes , so understood.
Hence, though every noun must be of one number or the other, there are many which have little or no need of both. Thus we commonly speak of wheat, barley, or oats , collectively; and very seldom find occasion for any other forms of these words. But chafferers at the corn-market, in spite of Cobbett,[] will talk about wheats and barleys , meaning different kinds[] or qualities; and a gardener, if he pleases, will tell of an oat , as does Milton, in his Lycidas, meaning a single seed or plant. But, because wheat or barley generally means that sort of grain in mass, if he will mention a single kernel, he must call it a grain of wheat or a barleycorn.
And these he may readily make plural, to specify any particular number; as, five grains of wheat , or three barleycorns. The word amends is represented by Murray and others, as being singular as well as plural; but Webster's late dictionaries exhibit amend as singular, and amends as plural, with definitions that needlessly differ, though not much.
I judge " an amends " to be bad English; and prefer the regular singular, an amend. The word is of French origin, and is sometimes written in English with a needless final e ; as, "But only to make a kind of honourable amende to God. The word remains Dr. Webster puts down as plural only, and yet uses it himself in the singular: There are also other authorities for this usage, and also for some other nouns that are commonly thought to have no singular; as, "But Duelling is unlawful and murderous, a remain of the ancient Gothic barbarity.
It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder. Thus, deer, folk, fry, gentry, grouse, hose, neat, sheep, swine, vermin , and rest , i. Again, alms, aloes, bellows, means, news, odds, shambles , and species , are proper plurals, but most of them are oftener construed as singulars. Folk and fry are collective nouns. Folk means people ; a folk, a people: Folks , which ought to be the plural of folk , and equivalent to peoples , is now used with reference to a plurality of individuals, and the collective word seems liable to be entirely superseded by it.
A fry is a swarm of young fishes, or of any other little creatures living in water: Several such swarms might properly be called fries ; but this form can never be applied to the individuals, without interfering with the other. Formerly, the plural was hosen: Of sheep , Shakspeare has used the regular plural: Thus means is the regular plural of mean ; and, when the word is put for mediocrity, middle point, place, or degree, it takes both forms, each in its proper sense; but when it signifies things instrumental, or that which is used to effect an object, most writers use means for the singular as well as for the plural: Johnson says the use of means for mean is not very grammatical; and, among his examples for the true use of the word, he has the following: Lowth also questioned the propriety of construing means as singular, and referred to these same authors as authorities for preferring the regular form.
Buchanan insists that means is right in the plural only; and that, "The singular should be used as perfectly analogous; by this mean , by that mean. Lord Kames, likewise, appears by his practice to have been of the same opinion: Caleb Alexander, too, declares " this means ," " that means.
But common usage has gone against the suggestions of these critics, and later grammarians have rather confirmed the irregularity, than attempted to reform it. Principle is for the regular word mean , and good practice favours the irregularity, but is still divided. Cobbett, to the disgrace of grammar, says, " Mean , as a noun, is never used in the singular. It, like some other words, has broken loose from all principle and rule. By universal consent, it is become always a plural , whether used with singular or plural pronouns and articles, or not. This is as ungrammatical, as it is untrue.
Both mean and means are sufficiently authorized in the singular: Chalmers, Sermons , p. Adams's Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory , i, Thus manner makes the plural manners , which last is now generally used in the peculiar sense of behaviour, or deportment, but not always: But manner has often been put for sorts , without the s ; as, "The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits. Milton used kind in the same way, but not very properly; as, " All kind of living creatures. This irregularity it would be well to avoid. Manners may still, perhaps, be proper for modes or ways; and all manner , if allowed, must be taken in the sense of a collective noun; but for sorts, kinds, classes, or species, I would use neither the plural nor the singular of this word.
The word heathen , too, makes the regular plural heathens , and yet is often used in a plural sense without the s ; as, "Why do the heathen rage? The word youth , likewise, has the same peculiarities. Hence some grammarians affirm, that salmon, mackerel, herring, perch, tench , and several others, are alike in both numbers, and ought never to be used in the plural form. I am not so fond of honouring these anomalies. Usage is here as unsettled, as it is arbitrary; and, if the expression of plurality is to be limited to either form exclusively, the regular plural ought certainly to be preferred.
But, for fish taken in bulk , the singular form seems more appropriate; as, "These vessels take from thirty-eight to forty-five quintals of cod and pollock , and six thousand barrels of mackerel , yearly. In quoting, at second-hand, I generally think it proper to make double references; and especially in citing authorities after Johnson, because he so often gives the same passages variously.
But he himself is reckoned good authority in things literary. I regret the many proofs of his fallibility. The quantity of ; as, a mease of herrings. Gay has improperly mackarels. It is noted that roaches recover strength and grow a fortnight after spawning. There are also other nouns in which a like difference may be observed.
Some names of building materials, as brick, stone, plank, joist , though not destitute of regular plurals, as bricks, stones, planks, joists , and not unadapted to ideas distinctly singular, as a brick, a stone, a plank, a joist , are nevertheless sometimes used in a plural sense without the s , and sometimes in a sense which seems hardly to embrace the idea of either number; as, "Let us make brick , and burn them thoroughly. The same variety of usage occurs in respect to a few other words, and sometimes perhaps without good reason; as, "Vast numbers of sea fowl frequent the rocky cliffs.
Our writers have laid many languages under contribution, and thus furnished an abundance of irregular words, necessary to be explained, but never to be acknowledged as English till they conform to our own rules. Dogma makes dogmas or dogmata ; exanthema, exanthemas or exanthemata ; miasm or miasma, miasms or miasmata ; stigma, stigmas or stigmata. Of nouns in um , some have no need of the plural; as, bdellium, decorum, elysium, equilibrium, guaiacum, laudanum, odium, opium, petroleum, serum, viaticum.
Some form it regularly; as, asylums, compendiums, craniums, emporiums, encomiums, forums, frustums, lustrums, mausoleums, museums, pendulums, nostrums, rostrums, residuums, vacuums. Others take either the English or the Latin plural; as, desideratums or desiderata, mediums or media, menstruums or menstrua, memorandums or memoranda, spectrums or spectra, speculums or specula, stratums or strata, succedaneums or succedanea, trapeziums or trapezia, vinculums or vincula.
A few seem to have the Latin plural only: Of nouns in us , a few have no plural; as, asparagus, calamus, mucus. Some have only the Latin plural, which usually changes us to i ; as, alumnus, alumni; androgynus, androgyni; calculus, calculi; dracunculus, dracunculi; echinus, echini; magus, magi.
But such as have properly become English words, may form the plural regularly in es ; as, chorus, choruses: Five of these make the Latin plural like the singular; but the mere English scholar has no occasion to be told which they are. Radius makes the plural radii or radiuses. Genius has genii , for imaginary spirits, and geniuses , for men of wit.
Genus , a sort, becomes genera in Latin, and genuses in English. Denarius makes, in the plural, denarii or denariuses. Of nouns in is , some are regular; as, trellis, trellises: Some seem to have no need of the plural; as, ambergris, aqua-fortis, arthritis, brewis, crasis, elephantiasis, genesis, orris, siriasis, tennis. So iris and proboscis , which we make regular; and perhaps some of the foregoing may be made so too. Fisher writes Praxises for praxes , though not very properly. See his Gram , p. Eques , a Roman knight, makes equites in the plural.
Of nouns in x , there are few, if any, which ought not to form the plural regularly, when used as English words; though the Latins changed x to ces , and ex to ices , making the i sometimes long and sometimes short: Some Greek words in x change that letter to ges ; as, larynx, larynges , for larinxes; phalanx, phalanges , for phalanxes. Billet-doux , from the French, is billets-doux in the plural. Of nouns in on , derived from Greek, the greater part always form the plural regularly; as, etymons, gnomons, ichneumons, myrmidons, phlegmons, trigons, tetragons, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, enneagons, decagons, hendecagons, dodecagons, polygons.
For a few words of this class, however, there are double plurals in use; as, automata or atomatons, criteria or criterions, parhelia or parhelions ; and the plural of phenomenon appears to be always phenomena. The plural of legumen is legumens or legumina ; of stamen, stamens or stamina: The regular forms are in general preferable. The Hebrew plurals cherubim and seraphim , being sometimes mistaken for singulars, other plurals have been formed from them; as, "And over it the cherubims of glory.
The former suits better the familiar, the latter the solemn style. I shall add to this remark," says he, "that, as the words cherubim and seraphim are plural, the terms cherubims and seraphims , as expressing the plural, are quite improper. The masculine gender is that which denotes persons or animals of the male kind; as, man, father, king. The feminine gender is that which denotes persons or animals of the female kind; as, woman, mother, queen. The neuter gender is that which denotes things that are neither male nor female; as, pen, ink, paper.
Hence, names of males are masculine; names of females, feminine; and names of things inanimate, literally, neuter. Masculine nouns make regular feminines, when their termination is changed to ess: In English, they belong only to nouns and pronouns; and to these they are usually applied, not arbitrarily, as in some other languages, but agreeably to the order of nature. From this we derive a very striking advantage over those who use the gender differently, or without such rule; which is, that our pronouns are easy of application, and have a fine effect when objects are personified.
Pronouns are of the same gender as the nouns for which they stand. The gender of these is usually determined by the context; and they are to be called masculine or feminine accordingly. To such words, some grammarians have applied the unnecessary and improper term common gender. Murray justly observes, "There is no such gender belonging to the language. The business of parsing can be effectually performed, without having recourse to a common gender.
The term is more useful, and less liable to objection, as applied to the learned languages; but with us, whose genders distinguish objects in regard to sex , it is plainly a solecism.
These views of the matter are obviously inconsistent. Not genders, or a gender, do the writers undertake to define, but "gender" as a whole; and absurdly enough, too; because this whole of gender they immediately distribute into certain other genders , into genders of gender, or kinds of gender, and these not compatible with their definition. There are four genders;--the masculine , the feminine , the common , and the neuter. This then is manifestly no gender under the foregoing definition, and the term neuter is made somewhat less appropriate by the adoption of a third denomination before it.
Nor is there less absurdity in the phraseology with which Murray proposes to avoid the recognition of the common gender: According to this, we must have five genders , exclusive of that which is called common ; namely, the masculine , the feminine , the neuter , the androgynal , and the doubtful. Some of them, confounding gender with sex, deny that there are more than two genders, because there are only two sexes.
Others, under a like mistake, resort occasionally, as in the foregoing instance, to an androgynal , and also to a doubtful gender: I assume, that there are in English the three genders, masculine, feminine, and neuter, and no more; and that every noun and every pronoun must needs be of some gender; consequently, of some one of these three. A gender is, literally, a sort, a kind, a sex. But genders, in grammar , are attributes of words, rather than of persons, or animals, or things; whereas sexes are attributes, not of words, but of living creatures.
He who understands this, will perceive that the absence of sex in some things, is as good a basis for a grammatical distinction, as the presence or the difference of it in others; nor can it be denied, that the neuter, according to my definition, is a gender, is a distinction "in regard to sex," though it does not embrace either of the sexes.
There are therefore three genders, and only three. Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? These were called, by the old grammarians, epicene nouns--that is, supercommon ; but they are to be parsed each according to the gender of the pronoun which is put for it.
The Grammar of English Grammars/Part II
Those terms which are equally applicable to both sexes, if they are not expressly applied to females, and those plurals which are known to include both sexes, should be called masculine in parsing; for, in all languages, the masculine gender is considered the most worthy,[] and is generally employed when both sexes are included under one common term. Thus parents is always masculine, and must be represented by a masculine pronoun, for the gender of a word is a property indivisible, and that which refers to the male sex, always takes the lead in such cases.
If one say, "Joseph took the young child and his mother by night, and fled with them into Egypt," the pronoun them will be masculine; but let " his " be changed to its , and the plural pronoun that follows, will be feminine. For the feminine gender takes precedence of the neuter, but not of the masculine; and it is not improper to speak of a young child without designating the sex.
As for such singulars as parent, friend, neighbour, thief, slave , and many others, they are feminine when expressly applied to any of the female sex; but otherwise, masculine. Thus a congress , a council , a committee , a jury , a sort , or a sex , if taken collectively, is neuter; being represented in discourse by the neuter pronoun it: But, if I say, "The committee disgraced themselves ," the noun and pronoun are presumed to be masculine, unless it be known that I am speaking of a committee of females.
Here sex , and the three pronouns which have that word for their antecedent, are all feminine. Here sex , and the pronoun which follows, are masculine; because, the male sex, as well as the female, is here spoken of plurally. To brute animals also, the same distinction is generally applied, though with less uniformity. Some that are very small, have a gender which seems to be merely occasional and figurative; as, "Go to the ant , thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
So the bee is usually made feminine, being a little creature of admirable industry and economy. But, in general, irrational creatures whose sex is unknown, or unnecessary to be regarded, are spoken of as neuter; as, "And it became a serpent ; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail.
And he put forth his hand and caught it , and it became a rod in his hand. Here, although the word serpent is sometimes masculine, the neuter pronoun seems to be more proper. So of some imaginary creatures: The horse avoids the stone at which it once has stumbled.
First, by the use of different terminations: Secondly, by the use of entirely different names: Thirdly, by compounds or phrases including some distinctive term: Murray; Englishman, Englishwoman; grandfather, grandmother; landlord, landlady; merman, mermaid; servingman, servingmaid; man-servant, maid-servant; schoolmaster, schoolmistress; school-boy, school-girl; peacock, peahen; cock-sparrow, hen-sparrow; he-goat, she-goat; buck-rabbit, doe-rabbit; male elephant, female elephant; male convicts, female convicts.
Fourthly, by the pronouns he, his, him , put for nouns masculine; and she, her, hers , for nouns feminine: In some instances the syllable ess is simply added: In other instances, the termination is changed, and there is no increase of syllables: In a few instances the feminine is formed as in Latin, by changing or to rix ; but some of these have also the regular form, which ought to be preferred: The following are irregular words, in which the distinction of sex is chiefly made by the termination: