Friday, October 30, 2020

Book Review: Family Reference Atlas of the World

I am kind of loving the fact I have read, what I'm pretty sure, is my record number of non-fiction books in one year! It doesn't hurt that I have read some really great National Geographic ones (my favorite) and this is one of them.

Family Reference Atlas of the World

National Geographic

This exquisitely updated edition of National Geographic's popular and reader-friendly Family Reference Atlas features authoritative maps, detailed artwork, and explanatory graphics--an indispensable source of information for inquiring minds, young and old. In these richly illustrated pages, every country in the world is represented by a detailed map within its geographical context and also its flag, key statistics, and secondary maps with environmental and population information. Special sections feature maps and facts about the ocean, the solar system, and the universe beyond. Newsworthy topics from climate change and human migration to languages and digital connectivity are explained in maps, graphics, and photos. Fully indexed, and written to engage all ages, this indispensable atlas belongs in every family library.
Do you remember being in elementary school and hauling one of the huge reference books off the library shelf and just going through it totally amazed? That is exactly how I felt going through this one. I remember loving globes and running my hand over the globe and feeling all of the ridges and being amazed at the Earth and the globe made me feel both like I could see it all but also that I couldn't possibly see it all. 

Of course National Geographic is known for amazing photography and this book does not disappoint in this book. The book is divided twelve real sections (Changing Planet, Wildlife and Wild Places, The Human Journey, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Oceania, Antarctica, Oceans, and Space), of course there is an appendix and index but those aren't sections I get excited about. 

Anything about the ocean is the first section I gravitate to because I'm a Pisces, and this was fascinating. I didn't realize there were so many seas, but what blew my mind? Did you know the fifth ocean, Antarctic Ocean isn't for sure an agreed on ocean?! AM I THE ONLY ONE FEELING DUMB?? I always thought that was a for sure thing, but now I feel like I've been lied to my whole life. Ha! Aside from that, I loved the maps of the oceans that shows you just how deep they are in different parts of the world, and it goes to show how little we know about them. 

Let's also geek out over space, OK? I am always so fascinated by space, it is my second favorite section, but I am also so completely confused by it. I just can't wrap my head around the concept of it, I guess. I feel like everything has boundaries... like a box- there has to be a side, a top, a bottom, etc. Space has none of that and I feel like... there has to be SOMETHING. But then... what would be beyond that? I mean, I'm right here. I have a house around me. My house sits in a city, that sits in a state, in a country, in a continent, in a hemisphere, on a planet, in a solar system, etc.... what is beyond THAT? Does it just go forever? That is what I can't wrap my head around but dang it if I don't like to read about it and get more confused. 

Another random thing I liked learning about? Earth's freshwater. Totally random, right? Well I live on Lake Superior, which is in a watershed called the Mississippi-Missouri and one of the world's 10 largest watersheds. The book is full of amazing maps and if you have kids, eventually they will be assigned a science assignment that will have you digging for information and this would be an amazing resource to start from. I love having books like this around my house because someone always picks them up and finds themselves paging through it for a long time. They also make the BEST gifts! 

A huge thank you to National Geographic and TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. I am always so excited to get one of Nat Geo's books because I find myself going through them multiple times because I enjoy them so much. 

1 comment:

Why Girls Are Weird said...

This is SO COOL! Thanks for sharing Sara!