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Puffin scoops Dent’s 'joyous' collection of positive words
Puffin has scooped Roots of Happiness: 100 Words for Joy and Hope from author, broadcaster and word expert Susie Dent and illustrator Harriet Hobday.
Commissioning editor Phoebe Jascourt acquired world rights from Rosemary Scoular at United Agents. Roots of Happiness will be published in hardback in October.
Described as a beautiful gift book that will delight and intrigue readers of all ages, it highlights positive and often unknown words and phrases from throughout history to the modern day, said the publisher. The synopsis reads: “Susie Dent has searched far and wide to unearth happy and uplifting words and phrases that, in some cases, are long-forgotten, while others have only just been discovered.
“This is the perfect book to lift you out of your mubble fubbles (a slightly bad mood), make you grin like a gigglemug (someone who never stops smiling), and have you chortling (laughing) away in no time. Perfect for fans of Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’s The Lost Words (Hamish Hamilton), this joyous collection of 100 positive words will show readers just how wonderful language can be—and how you can use your words to make the world a happier place."
Jascourt said: “Susie has an unparalleled knowledge of language and etymology and has brought this together so beautifully in this joyful collection of happy words and phrases throughout history and across the world. Susie’s words paired with Harriet Hobday’s gorgeous illustrations make this such a delightful and uplifting book for both children and adults to enjoy.”
Dent, whose latest book, An Emotional Dictionary, was published by John Murray in October 2022, said: “So often our language and our news tends to dwell on the sad and negative aspects of life. Putting this book together has allowed me to remind everyone—and particularly younger readers—that there is a lot of joy to be found too. My mission is to find light in the deepest, darkest corners of the dictionary and to add some smiles and sparkle to our vocabulary. Above all, I hope that Roots of Happiness will show children all the joyous words and phrases our language has to offer.”
Hobday is a graduate of the MA Children’s Book Illustration course at Cambridge School of Art. She was highly commended in the Macmillan Prize and runner-up for the Batsford Prize.
