“The World Almanac for Kids” Offers Facts Unplugged

When it’s time for that first school report of the year, it might seem strange to guide kids to a real live book. After all, with the proliferation of iPads and Internet search engines, something simple like an almanac might seem like a light rail to Luddite town. The World Almanac for Kids 2014 has changed a bit from the tomes of your youth. Gone are the text-heavy tellings of the year that was and the year to come, the new World Almanac is colorful, engaging and interesting.

“Faces and Places” starts off with important newsmakers including the new Pope and the young schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai who was shot for promoting girls’ education. For parents who want to lead their young to lighter fare, there’s also coverage of movies like “Monsters University” and musical pop stars like Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift. Women get as much face time in this section as men, which parents of girls will appreciate. “The Books” section treats authors like celebrities.

Animal lovers will get facts about animals known and unknown (did you know a new species of frog has been discovered in Vietnam?) plus updated information on endangered species and the proliferation of poaching.

Where home economics and health class only introduce certain life skills, The World Almanac gives practical and simple advice and tips. The “Money” section gives fun facts about currency, but also tips on budgeting and saving. The “Health” portion has the new MyPlate portion control graphic, information on how to read a nutrition label and the importance of eating to fuel your body. Those fueled bodies will become better students, too.

From easy writing hints to quick test-taking tips, The World Almanac for Kids is a handy resource for homework needs. The book includes a brand-new feature on how to research for papers, projects, and reports that emphasizes good sourcing online and off and avoiding errors and plagiarism. They may be doing these projects with schoolmates who are different than them, so parents will love the teachings in “Population” that discuss what ethnicity might soon become the majority and where people come from.

Having facts at fingertips without a keyboard is a lost art, and The World Almanac for Kids 2014 is an excellent resource worth stocking . As holidays approach, encourage gifts without cords by stocking this and other educational volumes to expand our future generation’s minds.

For more information, visit www.worldalmanacforkids.com