Maps and Geography

December 2, 2013
The author of several books for adults and a record-holding Jeopardy! contestant after a 2004 winning streak, Jennings makes an assured (and funny) children’s book debut with this first title in the Junior Genius Guides series. Assuming the role of teacher (“Now, now, everyone stay in your seats. I will explain”), he labels chapters First Period, Second Period, etc. He sidesteps the didactic and keeps his tone colloquial and light while sharing facts about longitude and latitude, time zones, historical errors in cartography, discoveries made via Google Earth, the planet’s waterways, countries’ borders and capitals, and world landmarks. Among the myths Jennings debunks: Eratosthanes proved the Earth was round centuries before Columbus was born, and the Caspian Sea is actually the world’s biggest lake. He also has fun with the non-academic parts of the school day, presenting two games at “recess” and a recipe for “mappetizers” at lunch. Sidebars, tables, and Lowery’s scraggly line drawings (not all seen by PW) add visual variety to a book that’s packed with information. Greek Mythology is due simultaneously. Ages 8–10. Author’s agent: Jud Laghi Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Lilla Rogers Studio.

January 1, 2014
A liberally illustrated tongue-in-cheek guide to maps and geography delivers solid information and intriguing facts. Trivia master Jennings, Jeopardy winner and writer of popular adult books including Maphead (2011), will engage his middle-grade audience with this witty, pleasingly solid introduction to geography. With humor, careful choice of facts, and a clear, familiar organization, he leads readers from the basic workings of the Earth (shape, time zones, latitude and longitude) to the geographical fascination of unusual U.S. place names. Chapters follow the arrangement of a typical school day, with a series of subject-based class periods (among them "The Earth from Space," "Maps and Legends" and "The Watery Part of the World") interrupted by recess, art, lunch and music. It all culminates in a final exam and follow-up homework. There are pop quizzes along the way, with coded answers and occasional informational boxes of "extra credit." Subheads announce the topics of each short section, and sketched maps, charts and lists as well as Lowery's cartoonlike drawings interrupt the narrative, making the reading appear totally accessible. It will delight middle-grade fact lovers, who will want to go on to learn about Greek Mythology (publishing simultaneously; 978-1-4424-9849-5), U.S. Presidents (coming in May 2014) and more. You don't have to be a certified Junior Genius to enjoy this entertainingly presented introduction. (Nonfiction. 8-11)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-Jeopardy legend Jennings scores a win with this title in his new middle grade nonfiction series. Chapters are divided up into parts of the school day ("First Period," "Recess," "Lunch," etc.), and though each is fairly long and covers a great deal of material, the book moves quickly because of the conversational writing style, bits of trivia thrown in among paragraphs, and humorous drawings. Lowery's sketches are a big selling point; the silly tone they evoke matches the lightheartedness of the text perfectly. One of the strengths of this book is that Jennings is able to sneak in important geography concepts through what will feel like a series of interesting facts. For instance, when he discusses the Dead Sea, readers may be surprised to learn not only that it is not the saltiest body of water in the world but also that there is enough gold in the ocean to give every person on earth five pounds of it, if it could be extracted. The book concludes with a fun final exam that would be an excellent and inconspicuous way to test reading comprehension, as well as some suggestions for how to keep learning about maps and geography in real life. A great addition to middle grade libraries, both school and public.-Trina Bolfing, Westbank Libraries, Austin, TX

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* The new line of Junior Genius Guide books kicks off with a stellar collection of facts about climate, national flags, maps, and more, all in an engaging, arch tone. Jeopardy! champ and author Jennings, making his first foray into books for children, arranges the trivia in chapters that lightly satirize a school-day schedule, including a lunch period offering an ingenious and easy recipe for an edible map, a craft project in art class, and an official certification exam before the dismissal bell. Cartoon illustrations, inset boxes, and Jennings' jokey patter break each fact-stuffed page into delicious wonder-bites, each as satisfying as the next: Papua New Guinea's flag was designed by a 15-year-old; a fear of maps is called cartophobia; the largest country with no permanent lake or river is Saudi Arabia; and so on. This is no mere list, however: games, pop quizzes (including an encoded answer key and cipher to solve it), jokes, mnemonic devices, and even suggestions for field trips will pull in any young trivia fan. Lowery's black-and-white spot illustrations help explain concepts, such as cartographic projections, and add the overall levity, making this a successful nonfiction package as well as pure reading fun. Published simultaneously with the second in the series, Greek Mythology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Former Jeopardy! champ Jennings offers random facts (more random than other volumes in the series) and anecdotes on the topic. The lively presentation and humorous tone will appeal to a broad audience, but lack of an index or informative chapter titles ("Second Period"; "Lunch") makes navigation difficult. Cartoony black-and-white drawings add to the lightheartedness (and busyness); sidebars provide supplemental information.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)