book recommendation needed - learning about Latin and English

[CloudsAway]

I know a child who is interested in how Latin influenced English, how groups of words are similar because of Latin roots etc., and would like to learn more. He doesn't want to learn Latin itself, but just more about its influence on English, so I'm looking for something child-friendly (for and 11/12 year old) that would help learn vocabulary via Latin, but is also just interesting about how the words came to be like that, how they've changed over time, etc

I've got a couple of History of English type books for him, but they're not specifically about Latin and root words, so I'd like something a bit more focused on that, but not a really dry textbook - more for kids, for fun and interest.

Any ideas?

Bill Bryson’s “Mother Tongue” is pretty readable, and would, I think, be accessible to a bright tween who’s switched on by the subject. Can’t remember exactly how much there is in there about Latin’s influence, but it must merit more than a passing reference.

@CloudsAway Michael Rosen's Aphabetical is a more general discussion of how English has evolved from Latin, Greek and Nordic languages. It is quite accessible. My 9yr old has dipped in and out of it.

Thanks, I will look those up. He's keen to learn families of words that are related and what they meant originally etc. (Really, a good dictionary is probably what he needs, but he'd like something a bit more readable!)

If this is the sort of thing that will float his boat, Bryson’s your man. But I’ve just realised in checking my copy that it has a whole chapter devoted to swearing which holds very little back. On the upside, he’d certainly broaden his vocabulary...

You could try getting him to listen to some of the word of mouth podcasts. I do think Rosen is a little marmite though. One dc loves the podcasts but another one hates them.

I'll listen to the podcasts and see, thanks.

The Bryson looks too hard, I think. He's a reluctant reader, and needs something with more basic word families - but that's exactly the sort of thing he's interested in. I was hoping it would increase his vocabulary and reading level.