A Forgotten Children’s Book Became An Overnight Best-Seller

Way back in 1985, authors Elissa Guralnick and Paul Levitt co-wrote a children’s book called The Weighty Word Book, which was written as a fun way to help kids learn big vocabulary words through puns and stories. While it had a small following through the years, it never became a commercial success.

“We really never made a dime,” Elissa admitted.

That all changed when popular TikTok creator Eli McCann shared a video reminiscing about finding The Weighty Word Book when he was in eighth grade. The video struck a chord with viewers, and the reaction was immediate.

The simple, clever book — 40 years after it was first published — was a big hit. The publisher even had to order an emergency reprint to keep up with the demand.

For Elissa, the experience has been thrilling, but not because of the sales figures. She’s happy watching how the book’s unexpected success has given a boost to the people closest to her. “My kids are delighted, Paul’s kids are delighted,” she said. “In a way, the whole family is getting in on this.”