Star Sailor, the Story of Words

Written by Sara Cassidy

Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-4598-3663-1 

40 pp.

Ages 6–8

August 2025 

 

Where would we be without words? With a few letters, or sometimes a lot of them, words either alone or with others can inspire, inform, entertain, emote, and connect. They help us communicate that which we need to share, and to learn, and so much more. Their story is one of endowment, giving readers and listeners the bounty of their wealth, and empowerment.

From Star Sailor, the Story of Words, written by Sara Cassidy, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

Sara Cassidy begins with an introduction to what words are and how words arise, including the titular "star sailor" which is an astronaut. She discusses how words can be very old while others can arise daily. (Did you know that every day at least ten English words are spoken for the first time? [p. 4]) Sara Cassidy also talks of words coming from sounds that they imitate (e.g., hum), from the combination of words (e.g., bedroom), including to form portmanteaus like "hangry," and from sharing common characteristics (e.g., the ribs of an umbrella and our body's ribs).  

From Star Sailor, the Story of Words, written by Sara Cassidy, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

There are multiple pages of the geographical and cultural origin of words, whether it's cheddar named after a village in England, and Dalmatians originating in Dalmatia, Croatia, or those arising from languages of First Peoples, like canoe, skunk and the cayenne pepper, and from foreign languages (e.g., patio, glitch, and sauna). Words can be built from roots, prefixes and suffixes, and they can be modified as needed. With all this information shared in a snappy presentation, Sara Cassidy still acknowledges that sometimes words have arisen by mistake, that they've arisen without our understanding of their origins, and that sometimes words need to be retired when they become inappropriate or obsolete. There's a lot to know about words, but Sara Cassidy breaks it down into manageable chunks, which will help inspire new lexophiles.

From Star Sailor, the Story of Words, written by Sara Cassidy, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

Sara Cassidy, who has written everything from picture books (e.g., Helen's Birds, 2019) and early readers (e.g., The Great Googlini, 2018) to middle-grade fiction (e.g., A Boy Named Queen, 2016) and hi-lo YA (e.g., Skylark, 2014), gives us an illustrated non-fiction book about lexicology, the study of the form, meaning, and use of words. Just like words, it is informative, creative, inspiring, and definitely entertaining. And with Julie McLaughlin's illustrations, Star Sailor, the Story of Words is also colourful and playful.

 

Julie McLaughlin, who illustrated the award-winning Why We Live Where We Live (Kira Vermond, 2015), complements Sara Cassidy's light-hearted approach to an involved topic with her digital artwork that is vibrant and whimsical, inclusive and detailed. Beyond the text, there are many information elements to parse out of Julie McLaughlin's illustrations. Whether it's her depictions of onomatopoeia or her use of LEGO as building blocks for words, Julie McLaughlin keeps everything informative in a playfully enlightening way. 

I love a book that celebrates words and how they work. Because language is always evolving, Star Sailor, the Story of Words gives readers the basics of how words come to be and come to change, helping young people to understand the role words play in culture and how all of us have and will continue to be a part of that. 

Orca Book Publishers: Multi-author book launches (Victoria, BC)

Orca Book Publishers

 will be launching their newest fall books

on

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

at 

7:30 pm

at

Munro's Books

Victoria, BC

Books being launched include:

You Hold Me Up

Written by Monique Gray Smith

Illustrated by Danielle Daniel

Ages 4-8

32 pp.

Speaking Our Truth: 

A Journey of Reconciliation

Written by Monique Gray Smith

Ages 9-13

160 pp.

Black Gold

Written by Sara Cassidy

Illustrated by Helen Flook

Orca Echoes

Ages 7-9

96 pp.

A Fair Deal: 

Shopping for Social Justice

Written by Kari Jones

Ages 8-12

48 pp.

Medusa's Scream

Written by Melanie Jackson

Orca Currents

Ages 10-14

144 pp.

Firewall

Written by Sean Rodman

Orca Soundings

Ages 12+ (RL 4.1)

144 pp.

Hit the Ground Running

Written by Alison Hughes

Ages 12+

216 pp.

Munro vs. the Coyote

Written by Darren Groth

Ages 12+

288 pp.

There's a picture book, non-fiction, hi-lo fiction, YA and an early reader.

There's something for everyone, 

and all ages are welcome.

A Boy Named Queen

Written by Sara Cassidy

Groundwood Books

978-1-55498-905-8

80 pp.

Ages 8-11

August 2016

Reviewed from advance reading copy

Writing a great early reader or middle grade novel is very, very dificult.  The writer has to ensure that there is enough substance–in the story and characters and writing–to support the interest and reading demands of just a sliver of the youthful reading population.  How do you give the reader all that and at an appropriate reading level and in a limited number of pages?  I’m especially flummoxed how author Sara Cassidy, who has written both early readers and hi-lo fiction for teens, could pack so much flavour and sensory lushness into A Boy Named Queen’s mere 80 pages.  While the story is built on  the simple platform of a new friendship, Sara Cassidy has a created a rich landscape of people, places and experiences that heightens the story beyond that humble premise.

The story begins with the last day of summer protocols for Evelyn and her parents as they prepare both girl and house for the beginning of the new school year.  Little does Evelyn realize that her annual shoe-buying trip, normally for the dreaded loafers, would be “the last day of my old life” (p. 18) and herald a new life with sneakers–even if they’re too tight–and a new friend.  Grade 5 with Mr. Zhang becomes ever so much more interesting when the confident and distinctive Queen, a long-haired, brogue-wearing boy, joins them.  He’s like no one she’s ever met.  Even his dog, Patti Smith, who follows Queen to school that first day, is unique, though promptly retrieved by Queen’s pick-up driving rocker of a dad.

The burgeoning friendship between Evelyn and Queen begins with Evelyn trying to be nice to the boy who is obviously used to be ridiculed for his name and sense of style but who is self-possessed enough to withstand it.   He shares with her his strategy of creating an imaginary force field that both protects him from the cruel things that some may say or think as well as points all good things directly to his heart.  

I love Queen for his sensitivity and courage.  

“My name is handy.  I watch how people act when they hear it for the first time.  It shows me what  kind of people they are.” (p. 64)

But I love Evelyn even more for the colour she perceives in life, from her new runners,  that

“bend with her feet.  The soles are like licorice instead of breadboards.” (p 15)

to Queen’s freckles,

“His freckles outnumber even Evelyn’s.  But they’re strong spices–cinnamon, paprika–compared to Evelyn’s weak tea stains.” (p. 20)

and even Brussel sprouts,

“Evelyn doesn’t like Brussel sprouts.  They taste like her fingers taste after she’s held her house key for a while. “ (p. 50)

She is a young girl with eyes and heart wide open to goodness and joy, and Sara Cassidy ensures that Evelyn is receptive to a heartening friendship with A Boy Named Queen. 

Orca Book Publishers: Spring Book Launch (Victoria, BC)

Orca Book Publishers

 will be launching their newest spring books

on

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

at 

7:30 pm

at 

Munro's Books

Victoria, BC

Authors and illustrators in attendance will include:

Sara Cassidy

Not for Sale
Orca Echoes
(early reader for ages 7-9)
64 pp.

Michelle Mulder

Trash Talk: Moving Toward a Zero-Waste World
Orca Footprints
(non-fiction for ages 8+)
48 pp.

Mike Deas

Tank and Fizz: The Case of the Slime Stampede

Ages 8-11
152 pp.

Reviewed here

Alex Van Tol

Chick: Lister

Orca Currents
(middle-school fiction for reluctant readers; RL 2.4)
144 pp.

Diane Dakers

Homecoming

Orca Soundings
(teen fiction for reluctant readers; RL 3.5)
120 pp.

Sean Rodman

Tap Out

Orca Soundings
(teen fiction for reluctant readers; RL 3.0)
128 pp.

Robin Stevenson

The World Without Us

Ages 12-16
226 pp.

Reviewed here

Brian Harvey

Beethoven's Tenth: A Frank Ryan Mystery

Rapid Reads
(short books for adult readers; RL 4.5)
160 pp.

Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Disappearing Act: A Leena O'Neill Mystery

Rapid Reads
(short books for adult readers; RL 4.2)
160 pp.

There's something for everyone, 

as the above books indicate, 

and all ages are welcome.