I would like to purchase individual dictionaries for each of my children. I want a good copy, without odd pictures or more cultural definitions.

Thanks!

Hi Pam,
I did some research on different dictionaries in order to make a buying decision for my UG student. I found that current editions contain far fewer words than older editions. Then a Junior dictionary is better then a child's, since our home discipled children are reading at a higher level than the government indoctrinated children. Also, Websters makes no moral distinctions when giving meanings to words. I read a reply directly from Websters, and this is what they said. "The definitions they print reflect current word usage", not word usage accuracy. So a current dictionary edition will have the definition of marriage as between any two people. So I bought a 1952 edition of a Thorndike Barnhart Junior Dictionary. I got consistent reviews that Thorndike Barnhart was the best dictionary.
I hope this helps!
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

Thank you for replying. Can I ask where you got the Thorndike edition from?

Thanks, Pam

Oops! I just found the very edition on Amazon. Thank you.

Hi, I guess "langhaven" and I read your post at the same time. I was looking at it on Amazon then when I came back a few days later the one copy in good condition at a good price was gone. DO you know other sources for that dictionary or alternate ones that are good?

Hi Freeland Mom,
Anytime I am looking for used books, and Amazon does not have a good one for a good price, then I type the book title & year into my google search box and press enter! Woila, a page full of reviews, used book sellers, etc. You will have to weed through the entries, but you should come up with something usable. Sometimes I have to wait and keep looking until what I am looking for comes on the market. And for the dictionary, you could always look for one older or slightly newer, it does not "have" to be the 1952 edition! Other used book sellers are alibris, buy, and I can not remember the names of others. Even Barnes and Noble has a used book section on their web site.
I hope this helps!!
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

Oh, and I forgot to mention, when looking on Amazon, I will enter the title of what I am looking for and then go in 5, 6, or even 10 pages of the things that come up. I will try entering a little less or even a little more information in the search box, different things come up with each search! There may be something good there, but you have to "hit" the title the seller used in listing the book.

As an example:
1952 Thorndike Barnhart Junior Dictionary
OR
Thorndike Barnhart Junior Dictionary
OR
1952 dictionary
OR
1952 junior dictionary
OR
1952 Thorndike Junior Dictionary
OR
1952 Barnhart Junior Dictionary

I hope this helps as well!!!
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

And just for fun I did a google search and came up with this from alibris:

dictionary search 8/25/2008

there was one 1952 about 5 or 6 down, a few 1959's and 60-something. I did not check condition.
Good hunting!
Blessings,
~Evelyn Mae

Yes, I took it and love the copy. It is just right for a 3rd grader to comprehend the definition. It is awkward when some definitions just include a sentence in context - but it works for understanding the meanings. Hope you found your copy!