Let's pretend I bought this for the kids. That's right. I certainly didn't buy it because my general reaction to this question is "No idea."
UK geography I can do. I know my Wrexham from my Worcester, from my Shrewsbury from my St Albans. This is almost exclusively down to the fact that I spent the second decade of my life following a second-rate football club around the country, generally to places off the beaten tourist trail.
However, expand the map a little and I flounder, helpless. I had absolutely no idea up until about 3 months ago that Jamaica was off the coast of the USA. And I just had to google that to make sure that it was actually true. I think partly because I've never been outside of Europe (and not really very far into that continent!), but also because I was born without the spatial awareness gene that other people seem to be blessed with. And I don't just mean, I have poor spatial awareness. I really do have negligible to none. For example there is a room at work that I must have been in 20 times, and I still have to ask a handy Year 7 for directions when I go.
Therefore when I clapped eyes on this book I knew it had to be mine. That is, the kids'. Obv. And actually it is fascinating. There is such a wealth of information in here about the world. From the basics, such as where the highest mountain peaks are, to where different animals are found, to a map showing rates of literacy across the globe. It's a great book for promoting discussion, even if the conversations it prompts are not always comfortable ("but why is the life-expectancy only 43 there, Mummy!? 43 is young!")
Obviously the down-side of something so tied in to current affairs, is that, long-term, it will become outdated. But for now, hugely recommended for children age 8 and up.
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