What's where on Earth? Atlas ed. by Chris Hawkes

DK London, 2017. ISBN 9780241228371
This is an ideal reference tool for young readers who want to see the world at a glance, rather than having to click through screens that can become confusing and lost. Clearly divided into 10 sections - each continent, Early Earth, Polar Regions, The Oceans and Reference - it brings the planet's geography alive with 3D maps, lots of pertinent facts and illustrations about the landscape, population, landmarks, climate and wildlife. Each section also takes a particular focal point and expands on it - South America is the Amazon Basin; Australia and Oceania is New Zealand - providing a ready reference tool that kept both Miss Nearly 11 and Miss 6 poring over its pages on a recent wet afternoon.
Globes and maps have a fascination for children - they love to discover where they came from, where their family and friends might be and also the settings of their favourite stories so to have a book that provides not just maps but so much more is a treat. While many school libraries are doing away with their reference collections, having a beautiful volume like this on permanent display so students can flick through it at their leisure will not only grab their attention but may have them demanding more information about a particular region.
Miss Nearly 11 was particularly fascinated by the Early Earth section as she knows Australia is ancient and we regularly drive through an area littered with huge granite boulders, the remnants of long ago mountains now weathered away. Miss 6 liked Australia but also New Zealand where she had a holiday in 2015! Definitely something for everyone which would be a superb addition to the collection that students will keep returning to.
Barbara Braxton