"This thorough and visually delightful book is a yellow-brick road paved with 'a-ha!' moments. It is written in an engaging style that will open the door wide for young minds to enter the magical world where language meets history. I expect it will inspire many of them to a lifetime of discovery in an overlooked field." --Douglas Harper, etymonline.com

"Once Upon a Word makes learning new words fun and efficient. Jess Zafarris has written a book that is accessible to kids and educational enough for adults. Every parent and educator should keep a copy for engaged minds on hand." --Jordan Rosenfeld, author of How to Write a Page Turner

"As kids flip through this book, they'll feel like they're decoding secret messages from the past. This book teaches an important lesson: by understanding language we can better understand each other and the world around us. I love that." --Aubre Andrus, award-winning children's book author