Scholastic Kid's Almanac for the 21st Century - Hardcover

Kops, Deborah; Blackbirch Graphics, Inc.; Pascoe, Elaine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590307231 ISBN 13: 9780590307239

Publisher: Scholastic, 1999

Synopsis

More than 50 important reference topics come to life through vivid, detailed, full-color graphics in this one-of-a-kind almanac for children. From Aerospace to Zodiac, this easy-to-read reference presents information in a clear, visually appealing format that will engage young researchers. Subjects include 10 Heaviest Land Animals, The Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Mother Tongues of the World, and important U.S. Planetary Missions.

About this title

Review:

This is a reference book that's not afraid to treat kids like the intelligent creatures they are (or are sure to become any minute now). Laden with graphics and fun facts, this robust almanac imparts a wealth of real information, cleverly presented. An anatomy of a personal check shows kids exactly how those mysterious slips of paper that mom and dad use as money actually work. A calendar of comets shows when to expect the return of Halley's comet (2061). A list of deadly plants reveals that the benign-seeming azalea can be fatal. There are, in fact, a multitude of the kinds of lists kids adore: the Chinese years 1900-2007, so readers can look up their totemic Chinese birth animal; a list of which American presidents appear on which bills; the world's top 10 highest dams (not a one in the United States). Meanwhile, young scholars will find plenty of nuts-and-bolts charts that will prove helpful on homework assignments for years to come. The greatest hits of reference are all here: the periodic table, the multiplication table, the branches of government, all cleanly and handsomely displayed. A nice feature is the list of "key ideas" found at the beginning of each subject chapter. For aerodynamics, these include explanations of the terms rocket and space probe; for history, they include apartheid and dynasty. This is the almanac that will get used. (Ages 8 and older) --Claire Dederer

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-7-A compilation of facts and lots of visuals on 38 topics that will appeal to children. Some of the subjects included are aerospace, animals, astronomy, chemistry, computers, energy, geography, health, plants, religion, sports, weather, and the zodiac. Topics are discussed in as few as 4 pages or as many as 20. Each topic has a one-page summary, a yearbook that lists important dates, and eclectic lists of key ideas and five notable people. For example, in "History (U.S.)," notables noted are Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Paine, and Chief Sitting Bull. Whatever happened to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln? Succeeding pages on each topic have colorful bordered pages (different colors for each one), bar graphs, pie charts, and time lines. Though selective, there is a lot of information here. The book is terrific for browsing and there is great graphic material to support reports. Most charts and graphs acknowledge their source. While this book doesn't replace standard almanacs, it is an exciting step toward making them attractive and appealing for younger students.
Debbie Feulner, Northwest Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0590307231
• ISBN 13: 9780590307239
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352
• Illustrator: Italiano Bob, Bell David C.