2013 Almanac for Kids

Gr 4–7—American Idol. The periodic table of elements. The major religions of the world. Only an almanac bold, brassy, and entertaining enough can make all these elements work together. Fortunately, Scholastic's tried-and-true formula of in-your-face photos and graphics, addictive lists, and on-trend talking points make this book a "want to read" for middle schoolers. It all starts with a catchy cover that's splashed with images of Angry Birds, Justin Bieber, and extreme skateboarders, all of which will draw in students eager to see what's inside. And the inside doesn't disappoint. With full-color illustrations (many of them stock photos) and easily scannable lists, sidebars, and pull-outs, readers (even reluctant ones) will be encouraged to spend time on what they're interested in and to skim the rest. The alphabetical organization (and user-friendly index) makes the material easy to access, but also unfortunately means that topics such as technology and U.S. government follow sports, and movies/TV/music comes before plants and population. While the information is well-researched, consider this volume a meatier companion to the standbys with massive followings, Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not.—Sharon Verbeten, All Write Creative Services, De Pere, WI