Amazon.com Review
Did you know that about 15 million burgers are consumed every day in the United States? Or that the wingspan of an adult albatross is greater than the length of a small car? Or that the world's heaviest person (Jon Minnoch, 1941-1983) at one time weighed 1,400 pounds? Or that the finale of
M*A*S*H still ranks as the most-viewed television show of all time with over 50 million households watching? The
Factastic Book of 1001 Lists may be billed as a children's book, but adults will certainly appreciate these fascinating facts. The biggest, first, and fastest in categories such as "Sports Miscellany," "Films," "Amazing People," "Murder and Punishment," and "Natural Disasters" attract trivia hounds young and old. Each double-page spread is neatly designed with colorful charts and generous illustrations, making this dense collection of information easy to digest and especially easy to pick up and browse for short stints. Russell Ash, who also compiles the annual
Top Ten of Everything, knows just how overwhelming this world of abundant Internet information can be. By dividing life into lists and categories, he manages to simultaneously simplify and glorify the amazing planet we inhabit. (Ages 9 and older)
--Gail Hudson
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-A delightful smorgasbord of fantastic facts, from the essential to the bizarre, organized into 12 subject areas such as "Space," "The Earth," "Science," "Countries," "The Arts," and "World Sports." Demonstrating the publisher's customary flair for neatly compartmentalized information tidbits and striking use of illustration and typography, this title resembles the author's annual The Top Ten of Everything (DK) in style and format. Many of the lists are ideal for quick reference queries: the five kingdoms, measurement conversions, countries and continent facts, body systems, highest mountains, and longest rivers. Other lists are more esoteric, to say the least: "Giant Frog Recipes" or "Grisly Execution Methods." Pages are headed with colored bands, include "Did You Know?" trivia facts, and are punctuated with numerous high-quality color illustrations. Lists are organized in neat columns with succinct headings. The index is not very detailed, but suffices in identifying key subjects. A fun, visually appealing, and informative title.
Mary Ann Carcich, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.