CryptoMania!

Crypto Kudos

Eureka! At last a book to track the many worlds of words, from constellations to computerese, back to their classical beginnings. Edith Hope Fine's CryptoMania! is the ideal introduction to the Greek and Latin building blocks of our ever-evolving English language. Kim Doner's illustrations enliven and invite. A regular magnum opus.

— Richard Peck, author of A Year Down Yonder, the 2001 Newbery Medal winner

When Zander wins a mysterious contest, he receives a stuffed dinosaur and a kit to build a Teleporter. He and his friends are invited to help Blue Dino get home, and to "discover the key to unlocking new worlds." After building the Teleporter, they transport themselves to various places and historical eras, such as "The Classical World," "Tech Town," and "Mathopolis." At each stop, they find clues about how to help Blue Dino and also get information about Latin and Greek etymology to assist them with their vocabulary homework assignment. By journey's end, they have discovered the key to finding new worlds and words: curiosity. Each spread features vivid cartoon artwork, dialogue bubbles, and a cameo portrait of Zander with a short narration that moves the plot along. Each time the CryptoKids explore a new location, they receive a list of relevant word roots and affixes. Children will relate to the nonlinear presentation and will pore over the pages to make sure they have not missed any details. The extensive glossary/index lists word roots and affixes featured in the text along with their meanings, with Greek word "chunks" in green typeface and Latin in red. Another index presents the same information with the English words as the main entries. A delightful, educational book that makes vocabulary fun.

— School Library Journal

Edith Hope Fine is at it again, entertaining children and delighting parents with her newest book, CryptoMania! This introduction to language arts is cleverly disguised as a picture book. Ever heard of a Microcyanosaurus? With the help of this book, you’ll learn that it’s a little (micro) blue (cyan) lizard (saurus). Fine enlists the help of the CryptoKids—Zander, Cassi, Stella, Theo, Marcus, and Alphy—to solve a mystery. Along the way, you’ll discover that the English you read, write, and speak every day has its roots in ancient languages. Fine teachers readers that by learning just a little Greek and Latin, you can be more powerful readers.

— San Diego Family Magazine

I introduced Latin in my third grade class last year. When I found Edith Hope Fine's CryptoMania!, I knew others would enjoy learning more about word roots with the CryptoKids. The illustrations are unique, the color coding of the languages is "memorable," and the book is packed with information: pop-ups, glossaries, and so much more. Introduce Latin and Greek to your children, and travel with the CryptoKids. You might learn a little something for yourself along the way!

—Zee Ann Poerio, third grade teacher

Here at Park Dale Lane Elementary School, all of our third- through sixth-graders have become CryptoKids, thanks to Edith Hope Fine’s program that helps students pick up basic Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. By year’s end, our young logophiles were decoders, able to find meaning in long, challenging words. They love Alphy, the Microcyanosaurus, and have gained so much from the CryptoKid program.

— Gail Patterson, principal, Park Dale Lane Elementary School, Encinitas, CA

Five friends, the CryptoKids, teleport to ancient Greece and beyond to solve a mystery. The clues they collect help them discover the roots of words, and see how, when combined, words like telescope, tripod, and cardiovascular are formed. Kim Doner’s illustrations are playful and informative. CryptoMania! teaches Greek and Latin by telling a story and truly engaging the reader. Although a children’s picture book, it is a fascinating journey for children and adults alike. I read it, then my 14-year-old son (who is not normally interested in picture books) sat and read it with me. In the process of reading and sharing this book, the reader (and listener) learn the most wonderful things about the origins of our language. CryptoMania! would be a great experience for any child and wonderful read for adults who are interested in, and love words.

— The Readers Exchange

I always attend CRA and IRA with an empty suitcase to bring home the “must haves” I learn about. This year was no different. Here are some that I’d like to share with you. The first book I “had to buy” was CryptoMania! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids, by Edith Hope Fine and illustrated by Kim Doner. This is a book that really brings to life the Greek, and Latin building blocks of our English language. The comic book format makes it a book to be read and reread by elementary, middle school and high school students. Check out the website at www.cryptokids.com for an educator’s guide.

— Penny Ann Cline, Editor GSDRA

Edith Hope Fine, logophile (lover of words), writes books aimed at elementary and middle school readers. I have seen her CryptoMania!: Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids displayed recently my own daughter's elementary school library. In this book, friends Zander, Cassi, Stella, Theo, Marcus, and Alphy the Microcyanosaurus find themselves travelling through space and time to solve a mystery and finish their homework. Along the way, the kids discover that the key to opening up new words is also the key to opening up new worlds. Written in a highly energetic comic book dialogue format with absolutely stunning illustrations by Kim Doner, CryptoMania! is sure to appeal to students, while teaching them how to hunt out the secrets inside big, new, hard words by using a little knowledge of Greek and Latin roots and affixes. For teachers, an Educator's Guide is available online with loads of imaginative, hands-on projects and suggestions for in-depth explorations of the Teleporter destinations. Also available is the 34-week CryptoKids Decoder Program for schools with directions, weekly root word lists for teachers, bulletin board pages, and flashcards (www.cryptokids.com).

I believe this book will also appeal to high school students embarking on their study of Latin. In fact, it might appeal to juniors and seniors who would like a quick, fun, and no-pressure review of Greek and Latin word roots before they take their SATs--although they might be too cool to admit it. I am sure you will love it, too.

— Sharon Kazmierski
"The Clearing House," The Classical Outlook
The American Classical League

More Resources
Zee Ann Poerio teaches at the St. Louise de Marillac School in Pittsburgh. She adds, “Check out more benefits of classical studies and visit the National Committee for Latin and Greek at these sites.”
http://www.promotelatin.org/nltrw.htm
The American Classical League: http://www.aclclassics.org/
Excellence Through Classics (Zee Ann is the Vice Chair): http://www.etclassics.org/