Xpress: Kids almanac is cool, and that's a fact

Kids almanac is cool, and that's a fact

By KENDRA JOHN

It's been a long, hard day at school. Just as you get home, you lazily throw down your backpack and wind down for what may be an evening spent in front of the television or talking on the phone.

But another form of entertainment can be found right at your fingertips, and this time it's not the remote. Try picking up the 2003 World Almanac for Kids. The authors of this great book are trying to make a statement by improving the information, hooking you up with the latest statistics of the year in sports, video games, holidays, inventions and much, much more.

How does it measure up?

The 2003 edition has proved to be the best, and that's not just based on its bestselling status among world almanacs, publisher World Almanac Education Group Inc. says. With its expanded extreme sports coverage, more military information and fresh-out-of-the-oven games, it's not surprising that the book gets high ratings from teens.

"This book is stuffed with cool facts and is fun to read," said Nathan Hall, 14, a ninth-grader at Boca Ciega High School.

Jalisa Foster, 14, a ninth-grader at Pinellas Park High School, recommends the book to kids with homework because they will find the information they need.

The stats in the book are amazing. For example:

The most famous baseball card in history is the 1909 Honus Wagner card, of which about 50 still exist. One was sold on eBay in July 2000 for $1.27-million.

There is a Cookie Jar Museum in Lemont, Ill., with more than 2,000 jars; this always raises the question, where did all the cookies go?

The highest temperature recorded in Africa was 136 degrees, in El Aziza, Libya.

The easy-to-locate subject titles also were helpful. "I found it easy to find what I needed in a short amount of time" said Gibbs High School 11th-grader Sheena Turner, 15. Most kids interviewed gave the book high marks.

The authors don't want to give away secrets, but they say that new shockers and upgrades will be in the 2004 edition. In the meantime, if you haven't already, try to get your copy of this year's Almanac for Kids. It is sold at most bookstores.

The fun doesn't stop at the book, either. Check out www.worldalmanacforkids.com to enter contests, voice opinions and get up-to-the-minute updates on what you're into or like to do.

-- Kendra John, 15, is in the ninth grade at Boca Ciega High School.