| TOBESURE | Why we consult reference books of course |
| PEERAGE | System of hereditary titles detailed and listed in a type of reference book of the same name by either John |
| THESAURUS | Reference book of odd bits of statuary in the States (9) |
| DICTIONARY | Reference book of words and their meanings (10) |
| DICTIONARIES | In a manner of speaking, it's one of the first signs of spring in reference books (12) |
| HOLDING | Author of 'Why We Kneel, How We Rise.' (7) |
| ISPY | Guessing game often played on long car journeys; or, the name of a series of pocket-sized reference books for children (1-3) |
| GEM | From "bud, jewel", a precious stone, such as the tanzanite or turquoise symbolic of December; a highly-valued person, regarded as treasure; or, one of the miniature reference books by HarperCollins (3 |
| IDIOTS | The Complete _ Guides. series of reference books providing a basic understanding of complex topics (6) |
| ENCYS | Sets of reference books: Abbr. |
| THESAURI | Surprisingly I share half of 43's reference books |
| DIALECT | The vernacular word for beer in a third of reference books |
| LEDGER | Shelf with foremost of reference books (6) |
| INDEXES | Reference aids in reference books |
| DICTION | Reference books missing a sign, in a manner of speaking (7) |
| ENCYCLOPEDIA | Set of reference books: Abbr. |
| EYEWITNESS | Series of reference books for children that was accompanied by a television series narrated by Andrew Sachs (10) |
| LEXICOGRAPHY | The French team from firm, chart end of profitability in the field producing wordy reference books (12) |
| ROTUNDA | Round building featured in earliest of reference books by a French lawyer (7) |
| ROGET | Big name in reference books |
