The Wacky & Wonderful World Through Numbers: Over 2,000 Figures and Facts

Gr 5–8—Number nerds, rejoice: a math-centric guide to the world is here. Perfect for the math-averse and computation devotees alike, this volume features colorful illustrations on each page, laid out in rough rows and columns, which draw the eye to more than 2,000 facts and figures grouped into 61 often-alliterative categories ("Terrific Treasure," "Disgusting Dinners," "Perfect Primates"). The topics vary, from historical architecture to outer space to weird stories of survival, with strange tidbits that will entice readers. The numbers-only format on each page (bolded numbers next to small, expositive paragraphs) makes for quick-and-easy perusal, serving up info appetizers to whet the imagination and encourage further research. The title validates the importance of a strong foundation in numbers and math for an audience notorious for its "When will I ever use this?" approach to the topic. Lengths, times, weights, speeds: all of these and more are lenses for history, science, and literature. The only drawback of this slightly oversize paperback is its lack of index; a table of contents is the reader's only finding aid.