The one-volume factbook Whitaker’s Almanack, to which I also contribute, is a wonderful book. It has been published annually since 1868. Now in its third year, my book, Whitaker’s World of Facts, is published by the same company, A&C Black, but is especially designed for children and families. This new edition has been completely updated from cover to cover and features the most recent world record-breakers, the hottest new technologies from the iPhone to YouTube, the latest and greatest achievements (and failures!), today’s biggest celebrities and the most important events that shape our world.

Detailed lists and charts show global comparisons and features and FactDisks provide information on such things as the fastest animals, types of insect, all the US presidents, every astronaut who has been to the Moon, the highest-earning films, child inventors and other young achievers, the latest electric cars, and global warming. Many surprising unique facts are revealed in a range of ‘One and Only’ entries.

You will also discover a huge range of bests and worsts, oddities from the smelliest flower to the biggest robberies, the strangest museums and the craziest inventions, the deadliest creatures and the longest names.

A section on countries gives essential facts and figures including population, capital city and currency for every country in the world, as well as the flag of each one.

Timelines on subjects such as telecommunications, astronomy, weapons and inventions give a see-at-a-glance overview and pinpoint important milestones.

Useful maps, tables and formulae include conversions and scales, from Beaufort (weather) to Richter (earthquakes), and weblink boxes suggest useful websites to explore subjects further.