A collection of whimsical verses explores the confusing and frustrating inconsistencies of the English language, in a wry study that turns the alphabet upside down as "N" stands for nit, night, and not, but not for knot, knight, or knit.

Judith Viorst says that she has been writing always -- "or at least since I was seven or eight when I composed an ode to my dead parents, both of whom were alive and well and, when they read my poem, extremely annoyed." She has written my poem, extremely annoyed." She has written many books for children, including Earrings! (Atheneum, 1990), as well as several books of poetry and prose for adults. She is also a contributing editor to Redbook magazine. Mrs. Viorst lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Milton, a political writer. They have three sons -- Anthony, Nicholas, and Alexander.