The extensive entries here include modern Scots with common literary terms, grammar notes (including a hint on how to decipher rhyming slang), verb lists, spelling guidelines, help with pronunciation, maps and a brief history of the Scots language. Each entry is concise and compact and many contain extensive cross-references. Although designed to encourage the use of Scots in schools, and accompanied by extensive educational material including worksheets and a Grammar Broonie (summary of Scots grammar), this is also useful for Scots who travel outside their locality and are confounded by the difference between a maw in Shetland and a Maw in Edinburgh. Distributed by Columbia U. Press. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)