Review by Booklist Review
The best-looking almanac out there is updated for 2020. Each section leads with enticing trivia (and the pages on which the answers are found) presented by NatGeo's resident science nerd, Cara Santa Maria. Interspersed with spreads on developments in precision farming, feats of athleticism, Icelandic hot springs, and dwarf planets are lists of movies or music (like a road trip playlist in the section on travel and exploration), profiles of a ""Genius"" in the field, from ultramarathoner Mirna Valerio to computer-programming pioneer Ada Lovelace, and highlights from the National Geographic Instagram account (""Best of @NatGeo""). An excellent resource for trivia buffs and information browsers.--Susan Maguire Copyright 2020 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Like previous editions, this latest almanac from National Geographic is full of fascinating information, from medicine, biology, and astronomy, to geography and beyond. Timely topics covered include regulations against plastic straws, dwindling honeybee populations, and antibiotic resistance. With just a few items per page (no long articles here) and pithy text, this is a browser's delight--each page bursts with color and images, and there are plenty of charts, time lines, lists, and maps. Featured throughout are quotes from a variety of figures: Leonardo DiCaprio, Pablo Neruda, and Rachel Carson, to name a few eclectic examples. Some may find the supplementary lists of "pop" information (for instance, a list of "movies starring volcanoes") and quotes distract from the rest of the book, but many will enjoy them. VERDICT A fun, breezy resource for fans of National Geographic; kids and teens will enjoy it, too.--Todd Spires, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
