Facts! One for every day of the year by Tracey Turner

Ill. by Fatti Burke. Bloomsbury Childrens, 2017. ISBN 9781408884621
(Age: 7+) Recommended. This is a really interesting book that grabs the reader's attention as soon as it is opened. Turner has come up with a different fact for every day of the year. Some of them are just amazing - when opening the book to 15 May, the reader discovers that "in France, it's against the law to call a pig Napoleon" (pg. 45). Other entries are factual and fascinating - an example is the notation for the 5 August when the reader learns that "Greenland sharks live in cold Arctic waters and swim very slowly" and "can live up to about 400 years!" Then there are the humorous entries that will delight - for the 30th April, the reader discovers that "Wombats produce cube-shaped poo" and on December 25, will learn how to say 'Happy Christmas in 20 languages'.
The background to each page is coloured in bright tones, and illustrations by Fatti Burke add to the interest of the factual information. Some double spread pages have a large drawing like the heart that illustrates the 29 June entry ("During your lifetime, your heart will beat about 2.21 billion times, and you'll take around 672 million breaths" pg. 55). Others are decorated with small birds or insects, footprints or foliage.
This would make a great discussion starter in a classroom and would appeal to those children who love weird and interesting facts.
Pat Pledger