Nerd Aa - Zz Your reference to literally figuratively everything you've always wanted to know

Gr 3--6--An introduction invites readers to pursue their "nerdy" interests in science, culture, design, geography, history, and technology. Readers are asked, "What kind of nerd are you?" and then shown how to determine the answer. The main text follows an A--Z organization--A is for such things as air capture, artificial intelligence, and axolotl; B is for things like banyan trees, biodiversity, brain-computer interface, and so on. Each of the entries, usually a paragraph long, is coded according to the type of nerdiness it appeals to, ensuring that readers can follow their interests. Some topics such as electric cars, farming, and genetic engineering are given more detailed two-page spreads. The illustrations and format have the extraordinary, interest-grabbing impact expected from Nat Geo. They are colorful, informative, varied, and just a plain delight for browsers--and, of course, for nerds. VERDICT A treat for visually oriented and information-hungry browsers. A fine mentor text for studying how to effectively present information.--Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York

An encyclopedic gathering of (mostly) odd items to prod the imaginations of the curious.Resler has assembled here a swarm of interesting bits of information on subjects as disparate as kazoos and invasive species. You don't have to be a nerd to be captivated by this combination of Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and short-form encyclopedia. The tidbits are arranged alphabetically, with breaks for extended investigationssay into circuses, where readers will meet fire-eaters, contortionists, and human cannonballsand sidebars profiling personalities who have something to do with the topic at hand. Occasional flowcharts help readers to see how their own nerdy interests might lead them to further study or even careers. The meat of the book, however, is in the bit-sized entries, typically no longer than four or five sentences. These touch upon topics running from Dada and daydreaming through Easter Island statues and experimental rock-'n'-roll to juggling and Jupiter's auroras. It is a merry band of far-flung subject matter, presented in slightly self-conscious, jazzy language. "It'd hang out in swamps and snack on anything it pleased," the book writes of a giant prehistoric snake, whereas "Zombies are dead people who come back to life (kinda)." Only rarely does the information swerve toward the cute"If most zombies eat brains, what do vegetarian zombies eat?"as most of the info blurbs are fun to know and in many instances educational.A bushelful of inviting, idiosyncratic subjects with which to become acquainted. (Nonfiction. 8-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.