Fern, Tracey. W Is for Webster: Noah Webster and his American Dictionary. illus. by Boris Kulikov. 40p. further reading. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson Bks. Nov. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780374382407. Gr 3-5–Not every hero is well liked, and as this short picture book biography tells us, that was certainly the case with Noah Webster. He was called an odd fellow, a big talker, and even a lunatic. Yet Webster was steadfast in his belief that Americans needed books written in their own national language—American English, not British English. He wrote a speller for children that simplified the spelling of words and contained stories of American patriots. His biggest accomplishment—a dictionary that included America’s own words—took almost 20 years to complete and contained more than 70,000 entries. It was this dictionary that made him an American hero. Fern’s writing is clear and direct, contrasting sharply with quotes from Webster’s inflated prose. For example, when Webster describes British textbooks as “defective and erroneous,” the author says, “That was Noah’s way of saying they stunk.” The illustrations also reflect Webster’s know-it-all attitude, depicting him towering over animals, houses, students, and crowds of people—everything except his huge dictionary. Webster is also the only person shown in full color, while everyone else is in drab, muted tones. Together, the text and visuals clearly emphasize Webster’s unique qualities—both the annoying and the exceptional. Pair this book with Jeri Chase Ferris’s Noah Webster and His Words (HMH, 2012). VERDICT A solid introduction to America’s most famous lexicographer.–Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York This review was published in School Library Journal's July 2015 issue.