We don't normally publish second reviews of a product, even when it is exceptionally helpful, so when a copy of the 1828 dictionary hit my desk this week I faced a dilemma. I also realized I had an excellent opportunity to share my own thoughts on the book; I chose not to let the chance pass me by.

Jean Hall's original review of the American Dictionary of the English Language is quite helpful and the product has not changed, so I will not duplicate effort here by repeating information she has already given. What I will do is share more about why you need this book.

I really do believe this, you see - every Christian homeschooling family needs Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary, for multiple reasons. In truth, though Christians will especially appreciate it, every homeschooling family that chooses to read from early American documents needs this book.

Language changes, you see. My classic example of just how quickly language changes is the word "gay." It meant one thing when I was a child and means something entirely different now...at least in common usage. So if you're reading text that was written a hundred or more years ago there is a very good chance you will encounter words and find that, as Inigo said to Vizzini in The Princess Bride, "I do not think it means what you think it means."

So if, in your early American history studies, you are reading primary source documents (You are, aren't you? Primary sources are usually the best sources where history is concerned.), you will want to have this dictionary on hand. When you encounter a word that, in its context, doesn't seem to mean what you think it should, look it up here! This will accomplish two things. First, it will give you the contemporary (contemporary to the document's author) meaning of the word. Second, it will help you see the word the way America's founders saw it - from a Christian worldview. If you read Jean Hall's review, which I mentioned earlier, you will see what I mean.

This same truth applies to reading the King James Version of the Bible. When I'm deep into word studies, I keep my Strong's on hand. If I am reading and want a quick look-up, however, I will likely grab the 1828 dictionary. The English language didn't change anywhere near as much between the 1600s and the 1800s as it has since the 1800s, so this dictionary's definitions tend to be fairly accurate. Too, since Webster used Scripture in his definitions, looking up one word often leads my studies in new and interesting directions.

Finally, one thing I highly recommend for history enrichment is period-style writing. Your students can gain much more from their history studies if they become part of the historical time periods they explore, and becoming a part often involves writing. Whether they are writing historical fiction or composing letters to one another as if they were living in early America, referring to this dictionary can help them keep their language usage true.

This book will almost surely outlast all of your other homeschool purchases. My youngest graduated years ago and my personal copy of the 1828 is still very much in use around here.

`nuff said.