I loved the cleverness of this book. Who would think a chest full of words would be a treasure, but it's true! What starts as a treasure hunt, turns into a discovery of the power of words. Not everyone in this engagingly illustrated book understands the value and power of the words our character is searching for. It's only after he finds a kindred word lover that he discovers new words are everywhere describing everything.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. As a lover of words and reading, I enjoyed this picture book immensely. I could see this book being used in a classroom setting as a way of getting kids to expand their vocabulary when writing, and encouraging them to use "juicy words" to tell their stories. Paired with fun illustrations, this book is a winner.

A CHEST FULL OF WORDS by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Rothlisberger (translated by Tim Mohr) is a delightful picture book that celebrates the power, joy, and discovery of words. The artwork is absolutely delightful, depicting the words in action. The word choices are wonderfully whimsical, encouraging a love of language and discovery. I highly recommend for every elementary library and classroom.

The art is adorable. The story was fun. I think my kids would have enjoyed this when they were littles.

4 stars

Thank you to NorthSouth Books Inc. and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was such a delightful story! It really teaches children the power of words and the power of descriptor vocabulary words to be more precise. Combined with the charming illustrations, Rebecca Gugger shows us what happens when you combine words like "fluorescent" with a hedgehog, and it is, as imagined, very amusing. There is also a moment near the end of the book where Gugger shows readers how to find more words through sight, sound, smell, and more! Overall, I found this story to be very enjoyable and loved the message it presented. I will definitely be adding this to my library's collection!

Oscar finds a big chest one day, he removes the lock and finds that it is full of WORDS! This is the start to this wonderful book! This book has such a sweet message about how you can learn from the world around you and find words everywhere! It also shows that words shouldn't be thrown around willy nilly. The illustrations are so cute, and I loved seeing the effect the words had on everything.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a really cute read!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and NorthSouth Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley, NorthSouth Books, and Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger for early access to A Chest Full of Words.

A Chest Full of Words follows a child who finds a chest on the beach. When the child opens the chest and discovers it is filled with words, they use the words to enhance the things around them. But, after using up all the words, the child goes on a hunt for more.

This book will be a lovely read aloud for elementary school aged children. This can be used as a tool to explain the power of our words and the importance of what we say.

this was a super cute story. I absolutely loved the illustrations. The meaning behind “finding words” is so special, especially as a momma to autistic children. Words are a precious thing and we shouldn’t fling them around lightly, but rather treasure each one. This is what I feel the book was communicating. Well done. :)

This whimsical story involves a boy who finds a chest full of words, and who discovers the power of words to create new ideas and change things. The illustrations are imaginative and fun, incorporating vocabulary words in the drawings, and the story has great implicit messages without being preachy.

Pity poor Oscar. He finds a treasure chest, but, as Oscar explains it, the chest “was full, all right, but only with words. All sorts of words. All jumbled up.” What a disappointment! What good are words?

The clever words by Rebecca Gugger and the whimsical illustrations by Tim Mohr show the power of words and how you just can’t have too many of them. Adult booklovers will love this book as much as kids, and the former will have a special appreciation of translator Simon Röthlisberger. A QR code provides children with free activities to download.

Thank you, Natalie, for drawing my attention to this lovely picture book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books in exchange for an honest review.

Oscar finds a large old chest, removes the lock, and discovers that it is full of WORDS. They all seem to be adjectives and he has great fun attaching them to things until he runs out. So he asks everyone he sees until he asks Louise the gardening lady who tells him that you can find words anytime and anywhere and that it is all like painting a picture with words. And that once in a while someone will give you a new word to enjoy. So much fun to read again and again!
The prose is translated from the German by Tim Mohr.
The illustrations by Rebecca Gugger are imaginative, colorful, delightful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone of ANY age (not only 4 to 8) including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy in Adobe Digital Editions provided by NorthSouth Books Inc. | NorthSouth Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Mar 18, 2025
#AChestFullofWords by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger with Tim Mohr Translator @NorthSouthBooks #NetGalley

This book is hilarious and fun. Oscar has all these words, but he squanders them and needs to find more. Happily, he finds a way to get more. And what terrific and powerful words! The words are so descriptive and just hard enough to provide a challenge. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this very fun picture book

I love this book! I'll start with the message. It was amazing! Words truly do have so much power, and Oscar sets a good example for young readers to recognize this. I have no doubt that readers will be inspired to discover words (adjectives, specifically) all around them and get creative with this. Speaking of creativity, it is apparent that the illustrator worked in conjunction with the author to use a wide variety of diverse adjectives and show their meanings/power on each page, complete with stunning detail and color. Additionally, the way the illustrator showed Oscar using the words he found was wildly clever, and fit perfectly with the general tone of the story. Lastly, the overall idea of this book is definitely very unique, and I love how this story brings a literary breath of fresh air to the world of children's books.
Bravo!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

A Chest Full of Words is a beautiful and thought-provoking illustrated picture book for children. We follow a boy who finds a treasure chest, and when he eventually gets it open, he's disappointed because it's filled with words. After he throws the first word away and a fluorescent hedgehog runs by him, he begins to realise that words can change things. He then begins hurling words around at things to change them until he runs out. When he discovers a new pile of words he begins to understand the importance of words and how they can change and shape something, enrich our lives, can hurt or hinder as well as uplift and inspire and most importantly that words are never just words - they have meaning, power and significance.
This is such a beautiful story with such a great lesson, especially for the new generations of children and even as a reminder to adults sharing the book with a child.

Wordbuilding = worldbuilding
I was already super happy with the German original, but I am giggly-glad that "A chest full of words" also works well in EVERY language of the world.
Together with the gorgeous illustrations an absolute musst-have, not only for teachers and educators: let's a learn to create with words again as if they could have magical power.

I could not love this book more! The illustrations are to die for and the concept is delightful. It really reflects that phase of childhood where we learn new words and get to experiment with them in ways adults don't. I loved all the ways this book allowed us to interact, the chances we have to match up words with illustrations to work out which word has been applied and the idea to find new words using all our senses. The choice of words is a perfect mix of whimsical and advanced. All topped off with a super sweet moral about exploring language and finding words 'anytime and anywhere'.

110% will be recommending this book to everyone, if I could give it 6 stars I would!

Free proof copy provided by Netgalley.

Thank you to NorthSouth Books Inc. and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this title to read and review. I feel like you could read this book many ways and get lots of different lessons or thought-provoking commentary from this book, just depending on your perspective. At once, A Chest Full of Words is a book about how magical words can be: they can describe, explain, name, and bring things to life. But you can also learn that words are never JUST words, they have meaning and significance, can hurt or inspire, and make our experiences richer -- so it's no disappointment really, to find a treasure chest filled with "only" words, but you can't toss them around lightly. It's quite thoughtful but fun at the same time.

This was a pretty fun picture-book! I loved the story and all the words that the main character pulls out of the chest! Lovely that it kind of reminds us of memories and reading about other people's real life experiences (like in a time capsule!).

"Words have magical powers." When Oscar finds a magical trunk full of words, he begins to see their power - just apply "docile" to an alligator! Very distinctive and cool illustrations, great storyline, and some stretch vocabulary for younger kids. Really enjoyed this one. Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth for the eARC!

I received an electronic ARC from NorthSouth Books Inc. through NetGalley.
Oscar discovers a buried chest. When he finally gets it open, words come out. He is disappointed at first until he discovers how much power words have. Excited to share them, he empties the chest. He sets off to find help to gather more words, and after several discouraging encounters, meets someone who shows him how easy it is to collect and share words. I love Gugger's message as she brings readers along on Oscar's adventures. They will be amused at some of the results when words are shared and celebrate the beauty and fun involved. The artwork gives insight into the story and offers further clues from the written words to the objects/beings involved.