The Wonderful World Book

Kate Petty (text)

Jenny Maizels (illus)

Random House, UK: 2002

ISBN: 037032711X

Genres: geology, geography, science

Another in the series that produced The Great Grammar Book, this colourful, detailed pop-up book is designed to thoroughly fascinate young readers.

Opening with ‘Our Place in Space' (now out of date due to the disbarring of Pluto) it includes information behind each flap that introduces readers to the size, distance from the sun, and the number of moons of each planet in our solar system. The focus gradually moves inwards - Space, the Sun, Continents & Oceans, Rivers & Mountains, Countries, Disaster, Journey Time, and Who Lives Where.

Related characters such as Colin Continent and Otis Ocean appear on each page to guide the reader, instructing them how to lift or pull flaps for information. The pop-up volcano is probably the most spectacular and will definitely grab reader attention on the Disaster page but all are designed to interest young readers and encourage discussion. The pages are packed with information, without crowding or overwhelming the vibrantly coloured illustrations.

This is a book children are likely to love to death but it is a splendid one with which to stimulate reluctant readers, being extremely tactile and full of surprises. Highly visual children will particularly appreciate the minute details which may go unnoticed by readers more accustomed to text heavy pages. It has a sturdy cover and the pop-ups are cardboard, rather than paper, making this a worthwhile investment for home or the classroom.

Highly recommended.