Cool Compendiums
Unusual almanacs appeal and reveal
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 1/1/2008
How hot is it on Venus? What is Geocaching? Who holds the world record in coin flipping? The answers (and much more) can be found in these new books, each of which is stuffed to the gills with fun facts, trivia and general knowledge for kids.
The Encyclopedia of Immaturity offers more than 300 intriguing ideas—plus detailed instructions and diagrams—on how never to grow up. The super-sized selection of entries includes “How to Skip Stones,” “Hang This Spoon from Your Nose,” “Make Duct Tape Underpants,” and “How to Build a Plastic Spoon Catapult.” ($19.95) Klutz, Palo Alto, Calif.
Joanne O'Sullivan's latest list, 101 Things You Gotta Do Before You're 12, offers compelling ideas on everything from the familiar (“Join a Club or Team”) to the fantastical (“Go to a Funny Festival”); many entries add dates, facts and contact addresses. Also includes souvenir pockets and more than 150 stickers. ($9.95) Lark Books (Sterling), New York
The Everything Kids Environment Book, by Sherri Amsel, explains the basics of why it's important to reduce, reuse and recycle, and shares best practices for “going green” with the message that kids can make a difference every day. She also provides background on the different roles that the rainforest, animals and environmentalists play in today's world. ($7.95) Adams Media, Cincinnati
Lisa Ryan-Herndon's Guinness World Records: To the Extreme is a fun, fact-filled book that will appeal to boys and reluctant readers. Outrageous records span the spectrum, including the largest food fight, the loudest burp and one elephant's unique talent. ($14.99) Scholastic, New York
John Farndon's Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World's Best Kept Secrets is an expansive, irreverent guide to obscure topics, unexplained mysteries and hidden histories, from the Mona Lisa to the U.S. dollar bill to Area 51 and beyond. Also includes secret codes and optical illusions. ($24.99) Dorling-Kindersley, New York
Smart-Opedia: The Amazing Book About Everything is the ultimate almanac for kids, answering questions about astronomy, the Earth, plants, animals, the human body, history, today's world, the arts, science and technology. Multiple visual formats tailored to more than 85 topics make the wealth of content accessible and meaningful for kids. ($34.95) Maple Tree Press, Toronto
