Library Notes

Sara Grajek

February 24, 2008
This February we’ve all been granted an extra day –Leap Day. In the same spirit, the children’s room at Rowan Public Library offers something extra in books that are more than just your average book. These are chock full of information, pictures and sometimes gross facts. These are the kinds of books that kids (and boys especially) will grab off the shelf and devour, even if they don’t like to ‘read.’

“Guinness World Records” has more information crammed into one volume than the average person might be aware of. There are records for amazing things like the thickest piece of ice on earth (15,699 ft and equal to 10 Empire State buildings) and the record holder for the most push-ups in an hour (Roy Berger of Canada with 3,416). There are also gross records such as the longest fingernails: 28 feet 10 inches for a man and 24 feet 7.8 inches for a woman! These even come with a picture, just in case you can’t imagine what that might look like. There are also sports records, scientific records and many, many more. You won’t believe what you find in the “Guinness World Records” book.

Another book that is more than a book is called, “Do Not Open.” Despite the title, this book is well-worth opening and taking home. Called an encyclopedia of the world’s best-kept secrets, this book can definitely live up to that description. Have you ever wondered how barcodes on products work? I mean, really work? This book explains what each line of the code means. Did you know there is a secret world underneath the city of Paris, France? There is one layer for the subways that are used today, another layer for tunnels used during WWII, and even another for mines that date all the way back to the ancient Romans.

“The World Almanac for Kids” is published each year and is similar in some ways to the adult’s almanac. It is full of facts about country and state populations, land area, currency, and flags. It also has fun facts like Odd Holidays (Bubble Gum Day – Feb 1; and Talk Like a Pirate Day – Sept. 19) and how to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in five different languages. With one quick glance through the book you can find out: which quarterback won the Superbowl last year; the world’s smallest animal; a bio of children’s book author Roald Dahl; how to read a map; and even jokes and riddles – that’s all within the first 100 pages. There are still 240 to go. With all of these books in the library filled with extras, you’ll be glad you’ve been given an extra day this year to read them.