Pick Me Up by Philip Wilkinson, David Roberts, Roger Bridgman, Jeremy Leslie

From the Publisher

Teens, parents, teachers, and readers of all ages: It's time for a reference-book revolution! And PICK ME UP is here to do just that-revolutionize the way kids and teens learn about history, science, nature, and culture outside of the classroom.

Taking cues from the internet, video games, and television, PICK ME UP appeals to modern kids and teens. The book is organized like a miscellany, inspired by the internet, styled like a video game, and informed by pop culture. It's filled with fun information about history science, nature, geography and culture-everything kids want and need to know.

On page 42, you can find the meaning of life! What would do more damage to a kitchen floor: a lady in stilettos or a 3 ton elephant? Pg. 117 reveals the shocking answer. Was Beethoven a punk? Check pg. 21. There are 885 native speakers of Mandarin Chinese. But how many people speak Bangali? See pg. 54. How many new species of fish are discovered each week? Report to pg. 203 and find out. What would a Viking girl post on her blog? Pg. 64 makes some excellent suggestions.

Kids need reliable, captivating reference books, but reading remains a hard sell. Instead of fighting against the multimedia diversions of the modern world, the creators of PICK ME UP chose to offer kids a book that mirrors that world. With a completely fun and modern design, a dizzying lenticular cover (because readers DO choose books by their covers!), and smart, witty writing, PICK ME UP appeals to voracious AND reluctant readers.

Publishers Weekly

This attractively designed, airily laid out volume a departure from DK's signature look, but every bit as inviting will be a hit with kids, especially those who love record books and almanacs. Organized randomly like the popular "miscellany" books of the 19th century, the eclectic contents merge pop culture music, fashion, movies, technology with school topics such as nature, math, politics and geography. Thus, readers discover a book that asks the burning question what would the blog of an 11th-century Viking contain? and provides an answer, too, with a mock web page from Hilde Torfadottir, age 13, born during "corn cutting time AD 988." Yet nearly every brief essay includes a reference to a related topic on another page, simulating hyperlinks in book form. In addition to fun trivia, the resource includes useful instructions on how to make a sling, as well as provocative topics, such as a quote from Abraham Lincoln ("The ballot is stronger than the bullet"), followed by a single word in all caps: "Discuss." Full-color photos and eye-catching graphics give this "un-encyclopedia" an engagingly fresh look, but the best feature is the tone of the writing, which winks at its audience and respects kids' intelligence. A timeline charting evolution notes three billion years of nothing but small complex cell organisms: "All this time and still no fish." Instructions on how to make a map begin: "A map is a way of telling a story. What the story is about depends on who the map is for." The title is an invitation; the challenge will be putting the book down. Ages 8-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-This inventive compendium of interesting facts combines elements of an almanac, a trivia book, and the Internet with playful touches of humor. The table of contents, index, and a simple color-coding scheme provide subject access, but the book is not intended to be read from front to back. Each page includes a wide range of information, much of it connected in unexpected ways. Cross-references, which appear in bold with page numbers within the text, approximate the role of hyperlinks and allow readers to follow related topics of interest. A page on the Mona Lisa, for instance, has obvious cross-references to Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian Renaissance, but also leads to "mass media" and "supermodels." A spread that starts with national economies also includes features on online shopping, obesity, and gospel music. The graphic design of each page is impressively diverse, utilizing charts, photographs, cartoons, and diagrams in a variety of colors and styles. Some illustrations convey most of the information, such as a clever flow chart that shows how the book works. The tone of the text is often irreverent, but this matches the general theme that information is fun and worthy of enthusiasm. Comparing the Roman Empire to McDonald's may not be the first reference for a school report, but it's a distinctly inventive way to get readers to think imaginatively about both. This unique resource is a natural choice for the many fans of the Guinness Book of Records.-Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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