HarperCollins Beginner's Spanish Dictionary    by HarperCollins Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2005 (2001) Softcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Language dictionaries have come a long way since I last acquired one. HarperCollins Beginner's Spanish Dictionary cleverly uses color and shading to highlight text and give its user fast access to the information sought. The dictionary is divided into two main parts - Spanish-English and English-Spanish. Each includes pronunciation tips for vowels and consonants, instructions on how to use the dictionary effectively, and a special 'Spanish in Action' / 'Inglés Activo' section. Dictionary words are printed in blue, and notes are included in shaded, light blue information boxes, for example a tip for English speakers that 'Although sistema ends in -a, it is actually a masculine noun.' The 'Spanish in Action' section includes a set of wordgames. It explains how to write a personal letter or an email, and provides phrases to facilitate telephone calls. Numbers are listed from 1 to a million, as well as first to thousandth, fractions, and time. 'False Friends' / 'Falsos Amigos' explains the different meanings in English and Spanish, of words that look similar, e.g. libréria is not a library, but rather a bookstore. Verb tables are provided for groups of regular verbs and common irregular verbs. This is an excellent, practical dictionary for beginners, enhanced by color highlighting, by very useful 'Spanish in Action' / 'Inglés Activo' content, and by helpful tips in information boxes. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews