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Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides #2
Maps and Geography
Discover the fun facts about the world and become a master of geography with this interactive trivia book from Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings.
With this Junior Genius Guide to maps and geography, you’ll become an expert and wow your friends and teachers with clever Did you know that the biggest desert in the world is actually covered in snow? Or that Christopher Columbus wasn’t the first to think that the Earth was round? With great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes to test your knowledge, this guide will have you on your way to whiz-kid status in no time!
With this Junior Genius Guide to maps and geography, you’ll become an expert and wow your friends and teachers with clever Did you know that the biggest desert in the world is actually covered in snow? Or that Christopher Columbus wasn’t the first to think that the Earth was round? With great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes to test your knowledge, this guide will have you on your way to whiz-kid status in no time!
160 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2014
32 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Ken Jennings
30 books574 followersKenneth Wayne Jennings III holds the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! Jennings won 74 games before he was defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg on his 75th appearance. His total earnings on Jeopardy! are US$3,022,700 ($2,520,700 in winnings, a $2,000 consolation prize on his 75th appearance, and $500,000 in the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions). Jennings held the record for most winnings on any game show ever played until the end of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions (first aired on May 25, 2005), when he was displaced by Brad Rutter, who defeated Jennings in that tournament.
After winning, he began working on a book, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, which explored American trivia history and culture. Ken also appeared as a member of the mob sitting in podium #13 from the new game show 1 vs. 100 in 2006, and in 2007 Jennings was the champion of the first season of the US version of Grand Slam.
Jennings was selected to co-host Jeopardy after the death of Alex Trebek.
After winning, he began working on a book, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, which explored American trivia history and culture. Ken also appeared as a member of the mob sitting in podium #13 from the new game show 1 vs. 100 in 2006, and in 2007 Jennings was the champion of the first season of the US version of Grand Slam.
Jennings was selected to co-host Jeopardy after the death of Alex Trebek.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 5, 2023
An observant learner since childhood, Ken Jennings made a few adjustments between Greek Mythology and this second Junior Genius Guide, and I like the results. If the first book was a bit dry and superficial, Maps and Geography more resembles Ken's energetic nonfiction for older readers. Introducing fascinating facts is the top priority, and Ken has a treasure trove of them to share about earth's countries and oceans. The first lesson is on how and when we learned the shape of our planet; we knew it was a sphere thousands of years earlier than most people realize. Time zones are necessary to maintain relevance for our twenty-four-hour clock, but zoning a round planet has all sorts of complications that Ken elaborates on. Some of the stories are pretty funny.
In second period we learn the highest and lowest points on earth, but with a warning at the outset: much of what laymen think they know on the subject is inaccurate. At 29,035 feet above sea level, Everest is the tallest mountain...sort of. What about Mauna Kea, which towers more than 33,000 feet? Half its height is underwater, but does that make Mauna Kea less of a mountain? These caveats are routine when dealing with extreme landmarks. Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean is earth's lowest point; at least, the lowest known in 2014. The Sahara is regarded as the largest desert, but not if you include Antarctica. Must a desert be hot and dry? Most scientists don't think so. Professor Jennings laments that even many educated people are geographically illiterate, a barrier to learning things we might not guess are tied to geography. Hollywood exacerbates this ignorance through movies that play fast and loose with facts. At recess, Ken teaches a couple of simple geography games, both of which sound fun. In third period we look at how maps are designed and made, including a history of incorrect assumptions that remained on maps for years, even centuries. Good maps, though, have positively affected mankind in more ways than just keeping us from getting lost. Maps have helped win wars, plan ambitious projects, and enhance other academic disciplines, and technology continues to improve how maps serve us. In art class we see that the outline of some countries resembles an animal or object, and this can factor into their national sense of identity. In fourth period we explore the depths and widths of the oceans: learning the names of seas, the general geography of the ocean floor, and how currents move. Much of the undersea realm was as mysterious in 2014 as a thousand years earlier.
Lunchtime! The history of food parallels the history of world travel, and Ken gives a few food facts from around the globe. In fifth period we read about nations, some new and some thousands of years old. World capitals have idiosyncrasies like every other geographical phenomenon, some silly and others rooted in war and other dramatic events. We review facts about borders, learning which countries have the fewest and greatest number of neighbors. We look at nations tiny and huge, at their endonyms and exonyms. A brief study of flags brings to light interesting facts about the flags of Libya, Nepal, Vatican City, and more. Music class is an overview of the history of national anthems, and then it's on to sixth period to study cities and landmarks. Major metropolitan areas are as old as mankind, and Ancient Greece and Rome had surprisingly modern amenities. The world's biggest cities eventually held tens of millions of residents. Professor Jennings leads a quick tour of quirky city names, including Puke, Albania; Batman, Turkey; and Rottenegg, Austria. We read about the world's tallest buildings, some of them like cities under a single roof, and then we run through oddities about famous landmarks. Not everyone knows the Easter Island heads have bodies buried under the soil. Seventh period focuses on the United States, from its origins as thirteen British colonies to a prosperous nation of fifty states. Entire books could be written about American geography, but Ken gives the highlight reel of intriguing facts. We take the exam to be certified as Junior Geniuses in geography, and class is dismissed until the next book. Professor Jennings is a lot more entertaining than most teachers!
Maps and Geography is written with more energy and informational nuance than Greek Mythology. Ken goes lighter on the teacherly quips, concentrating on presenting imaginative facts, and this works well. I'd likely rate Maps and Geography two and a half stars, and if there were more thematic substance, I'd round up to three. Ken Jennings teaches an enjoyable class, and you're learning from the best when he's your instructor. This book demonstrates that education doesn't have to be boring, and that's as important as any history or geography lesson.
In second period we learn the highest and lowest points on earth, but with a warning at the outset: much of what laymen think they know on the subject is inaccurate. At 29,035 feet above sea level, Everest is the tallest mountain...sort of. What about Mauna Kea, which towers more than 33,000 feet? Half its height is underwater, but does that make Mauna Kea less of a mountain? These caveats are routine when dealing with extreme landmarks. Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean is earth's lowest point; at least, the lowest known in 2014. The Sahara is regarded as the largest desert, but not if you include Antarctica. Must a desert be hot and dry? Most scientists don't think so. Professor Jennings laments that even many educated people are geographically illiterate, a barrier to learning things we might not guess are tied to geography. Hollywood exacerbates this ignorance through movies that play fast and loose with facts. At recess, Ken teaches a couple of simple geography games, both of which sound fun. In third period we look at how maps are designed and made, including a history of incorrect assumptions that remained on maps for years, even centuries. Good maps, though, have positively affected mankind in more ways than just keeping us from getting lost. Maps have helped win wars, plan ambitious projects, and enhance other academic disciplines, and technology continues to improve how maps serve us. In art class we see that the outline of some countries resembles an animal or object, and this can factor into their national sense of identity. In fourth period we explore the depths and widths of the oceans: learning the names of seas, the general geography of the ocean floor, and how currents move. Much of the undersea realm was as mysterious in 2014 as a thousand years earlier.
Lunchtime! The history of food parallels the history of world travel, and Ken gives a few food facts from around the globe. In fifth period we read about nations, some new and some thousands of years old. World capitals have idiosyncrasies like every other geographical phenomenon, some silly and others rooted in war and other dramatic events. We review facts about borders, learning which countries have the fewest and greatest number of neighbors. We look at nations tiny and huge, at their endonyms and exonyms. A brief study of flags brings to light interesting facts about the flags of Libya, Nepal, Vatican City, and more. Music class is an overview of the history of national anthems, and then it's on to sixth period to study cities and landmarks. Major metropolitan areas are as old as mankind, and Ancient Greece and Rome had surprisingly modern amenities. The world's biggest cities eventually held tens of millions of residents. Professor Jennings leads a quick tour of quirky city names, including Puke, Albania; Batman, Turkey; and Rottenegg, Austria. We read about the world's tallest buildings, some of them like cities under a single roof, and then we run through oddities about famous landmarks. Not everyone knows the Easter Island heads have bodies buried under the soil. Seventh period focuses on the United States, from its origins as thirteen British colonies to a prosperous nation of fifty states. Entire books could be written about American geography, but Ken gives the highlight reel of intriguing facts. We take the exam to be certified as Junior Geniuses in geography, and class is dismissed until the next book. Professor Jennings is a lot more entertaining than most teachers!
Maps and Geography is written with more energy and informational nuance than Greek Mythology. Ken goes lighter on the teacherly quips, concentrating on presenting imaginative facts, and this works well. I'd likely rate Maps and Geography two and a half stars, and if there were more thematic substance, I'd round up to three. Ken Jennings teaches an enjoyable class, and you're learning from the best when he's your instructor. This book demonstrates that education doesn't have to be boring, and that's as important as any history or geography lesson.
January 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this! A great overview of maps and geography with a lot of really interesting trivia thrown in the mix. It is Ken Jennings, after all.
Although it seems to be targeted to ages 8-12 or so, it seems a little dense for that age group. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed this at that age. The illustrations are nice, but a book about maps and geography could really benefit from colored illustrations and/or photographs.
Although it seems to be targeted to ages 8-12 or so, it seems a little dense for that age group. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed this at that age. The illustrations are nice, but a book about maps and geography could really benefit from colored illustrations and/or photographs.
June 19, 2017
I mean, if you like geography, this book is great. As someone who is fairly neutral on the subject, this was just so-so.
July 8, 2020
Learned about when scientists proved the Earth was round, Latitude and longitude, just basic Geography but its been a long time since my college Geography class and this helped alot!
October 19, 2020
Another fun, informative book by Ken Jennings.
February 25, 2014
I'll be generous in my rating because I know I am not the target audience for this book, and there were some things I liked (the structure, the illustrations, the test at the end). Overall though I didn't like the tone of the book and felt it was all over the place in terms of content. I came across an error early on...the prime meridian is 0 degrees of longitude, not latitude, and that soured me a bit. What good is a trivia book if you can't trust it?
October 31, 2017
I am a bit biased because I am a geography nerd, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Loads of interesting content and engaging writing style for the target audience, which I'd say is 8-12 year olds. There's a good degree of goofiness employed, but sometimes you need that in a nonfiction book for kids. I would rather have eye-catching colorful photography or illustrations than these cartoony black and white ones, but again, it caters well to the audience. I found myself reading several parts out loud to whoever happened to be in the room with me at the time, which is my unofficial mark of an enjoyable nonfiction read. There's a lot in here I didn't know before.
Long story short, not the end-all be-all best children's book on geography out there, but a highly entertaining one, at least for 8-12 year olds. I can see it as being the book that sparks kids' interest in the subject.
Long story short, not the end-all be-all best children's book on geography out there, but a highly entertaining one, at least for 8-12 year olds. I can see it as being the book that sparks kids' interest in the subject.
March 5, 2018
First, this is a trivia book. This is not meant to be an all-encompassing tour of geography. I thought the tone was light, and there was a great variety of trivia.
Second, I looked for an error that was referenced in another review and did not see it. The material feels more or less current.
Third and finally, this primarily is a book written for older children (8-early teen). The tone feels more or less appropriate for the age group. I found this very readable as an adult, too.
This is a great book series overall. Highly recommended.
Second, I looked for an error that was referenced in another review and did not see it. The material feels more or less current.
Third and finally, this primarily is a book written for older children (8-early teen). The tone feels more or less appropriate for the age group. I found this very readable as an adult, too.
This is a great book series overall. Highly recommended.
December 27, 2019
^.^
peanut y yo lo empezamos a leer. por ahí de los 2 años comenzamos a tener mayor gusto por el lenguaje y "necesitamos" escucharlo con mayor enfoque.
bueno, pues mientras tomaba teta yo le leía este libro. resultado: amor por el globo terráqueo y los atlas (que si hubiese puesto mayor atención, habría aprovechado ese período sensible para introducir continentes y eso ji ji ji, ejem)
regresando al libro. liviano, entretenido y cargado de varios datos curiosos. más de una vez me reí y aunque no es un texto académico per se, cumple con cautivar e inspirar.
peanut y yo lo empezamos a leer. por ahí de los 2 años comenzamos a tener mayor gusto por el lenguaje y "necesitamos" escucharlo con mayor enfoque.
bueno, pues mientras tomaba teta yo le leía este libro. resultado: amor por el globo terráqueo y los atlas (que si hubiese puesto mayor atención, habría aprovechado ese período sensible para introducir continentes y eso ji ji ji, ejem)
regresando al libro. liviano, entretenido y cargado de varios datos curiosos. más de una vez me reí y aunque no es un texto académico per se, cumple con cautivar e inspirar.
May 10, 2017
I think it was a good book overall, and I liked almost everything about it, but what I did not like was the randomness of the content. It seemed like there was no consistency for more than a page or 2. I would have given it 5 stars if it would actually tell something worth knowing about the things mentioned, not if Nauru made money or not off bird poop.
July 9, 2017
A fun, illustrated reference book written by Jeopardy champ Ken Jennings. It covers lots of basics, includes interesting facts and little quizzes. I found the tone and the constant reference to "Junior Geniuses" grating, but I doubt kids will mind. I learned some new facts and think it could be a fun addition to an elementary geography class.
September 25, 2019
My son and I read this book before bedtime for the past month or so. We really enjoyed it. A lot of the places I've visited are mentioned in the book, so I was able to tell him stories of my travels. We did the quiz at the end and he got about 60% correct. Not bad. But, little did I know there were other Junior Geniuses Guides to read. I'm thinking the human body should be next.
January 25, 2021
I'm reading this before giving to my nephew, so this is from adult's perspectives.
Generally, it's ok with some fun facts, but I feel that its missing story prevents me from totally enjoying it. Just feel like, if it has a story or a link to connect all the dots in different chapters, it'll be a page-turner, even for the older readers.
Generally, it's ok with some fun facts, but I feel that its missing story prevents me from totally enjoying it. Just feel like, if it has a story or a link to connect all the dots in different chapters, it'll be a page-turner, even for the older readers.
August 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this nonfiction book!
I liked the engaging writing style, the structure, the illustrations, and the jokes.
This guide shows that learning doesn't have to be boring and dull. Along with fascinating facts and quick tests, it covers lots of basics, and gives examples of activities for hands-on learning.
Highly entertaining for children aged 8 to 12
I liked the engaging writing style, the structure, the illustrations, and the jokes.
This guide shows that learning doesn't have to be boring and dull. Along with fascinating facts and quick tests, it covers lots of basics, and gives examples of activities for hands-on learning.
Highly entertaining for children aged 8 to 12
August 2, 2018
I love the style of these books! Maps and geography are some of my favorite things and this book is full of clever fun facts and interesting tidbits. Jennings style is engaging and perfect for younger readers. Highly recommend!
May 27, 2024
I had read somewhere that Ken Jennings' attributed his knowledge retention to making geographic associations with the information. I can see how that would be beneficial and helpful. This book tries to make locations interesting to a younger audience, but we old folk can gain from it, too.
February 23, 2018
This was a great book
June 2, 2019
I like these books. They just have a ton of little facts about the topic the book is about. I would definitely recommend it.
May 25, 2020
Great! The trivia in this book is great(e.g. Welcome to Boring, Oregon)
May 24, 2021
Can I rate a book that helped me gain knowledge for future trivia competitions lower than 5 stars? No, you fool.
April 6, 2022
We love this series so much.
October 3, 2022
I'm so bummed that I've now read all the books in this series. These were so much fun, and I really wish there were more!
November 7, 2022
Cute kids book with lots of facts I didn't know. Fun quick read
June 24, 2021
A book that mimics a "recording" of a day at school in which THE focus is geography. The mentality is great and filled with easter eggs, and I had a good laugh and learned a lot from it.
Want to read
November 22, 2015Jennings, K., & Lowery, M. i. (2014). Maps and geography. Little Simon, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Children's Pub. Division.
Citation by: Allison Burgess
Type of Reference: Geographical
Call Number: 910
Content/Scope: This book not only provides facts about maps and geography for students, it includes recipes, exams, and craft projects for students to engage in.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The author Ken Jennings is a Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author.
Arrangement/Presentation: The 160 page book presents map and geography facts with black and white illustrations to help explain concepts.
Relation to other works: There are other books about maps and geography, however this book takes a modern approach to the subject by including it in the "Junior Genius Guides" series.
Accessibility/Diversity: Students will be engaged with the fun facts and activities. It may encourage students who are not interested in the topic to pick up this book and learn.
Cost: $18.99
Professional Review: Maps and Geography. (2013). Publishers Weekly, 260(49), 86-87.
Children's Pub. Division.
Citation by: Allison Burgess
Type of Reference: Geographical
Call Number: 910
Content/Scope: This book not only provides facts about maps and geography for students, it includes recipes, exams, and craft projects for students to engage in.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The author Ken Jennings is a Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author.
Arrangement/Presentation: The 160 page book presents map and geography facts with black and white illustrations to help explain concepts.
Relation to other works: There are other books about maps and geography, however this book takes a modern approach to the subject by including it in the "Junior Genius Guides" series.
Accessibility/Diversity: Students will be engaged with the fun facts and activities. It may encourage students who are not interested in the topic to pick up this book and learn.
Cost: $18.99
Professional Review: Maps and Geography. (2013). Publishers Weekly, 260(49), 86-87.
Read
November 21, 2016By: Kristin Edwards
APA - Jennings, K., & Lowery, M. (2014). Maps and geography. New York: Little Simon.
Cost$32
the type of reference - Geographical Reference
Call Number
content/scope - This book is part of the "Junior Genius Guides" series. The book is filled with guide to maps and geography, to become an expert on facts. It is filled with great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes.
accuracy - Ken Jennings has become a best-selling author. His books include Brainiac, about the phenomenon of trivia in American culture, Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac, the biggest American trivia book ever assembled, and Maphead, about his lifelong love of geography.
presentation- This book has a collection of facts about climate, national flags, maps, and more.
relation to similar works - There are many books that students can use to find information about geography. But, this book is targeted towards grades 3rd-6th.
diversity - The text and examples are age appropriate. The illustrations will help students visualize and understand the information they are looking for.
the citation of a review of the item - Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com
APA - Jennings, K., & Lowery, M. (2014). Maps and geography. New York: Little Simon.
Cost$32
the type of reference - Geographical Reference
Call Number
content/scope - This book is part of the "Junior Genius Guides" series. The book is filled with guide to maps and geography, to become an expert on facts. It is filled with great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes.
accuracy - Ken Jennings has become a best-selling author. His books include Brainiac, about the phenomenon of trivia in American culture, Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac, the biggest American trivia book ever assembled, and Maphead, about his lifelong love of geography.
presentation- This book has a collection of facts about climate, national flags, maps, and more.
relation to similar works - There are many books that students can use to find information about geography. But, this book is targeted towards grades 3rd-6th.
diversity - The text and examples are age appropriate. The illustrations will help students visualize and understand the information they are looking for.
the citation of a review of the item - Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com
September 2, 2015
Having studied geography in college it's a subject that has long fascinated me and while I currently work as a school librarian I still have a special fondness for geography. So when I saw this book I was intrigued. And I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Jennings has divided the book up into 'class periods' with each period focusing on a particular topic like maps or countries or cities or oceans. He even included a 'music' class (national anthems). Each section includes fascinating information about the physical and human worlds. Some of the information is well-known but a lot of it is lesser known facts about people and places that most child readers will never have heard of. With the exception of one misplaced word (on page 16, the word should be longitude instead of latitude) the book is factually correct as far as I know (and I know a bit about geography). This is the type of book that could well light a fire of passion in the heart of a child for a particular subject.
July 10, 2013
This is such a fun book jam packed with so much geography. Ken writes the book in a way that makes learning fun and keeps your attention. The chapters are broken down by 1st period, lunch, recess etc.
There are illustrations, extra credit and pop quizzes throughout and a 20 question quiz at the end (all answers are provided). Kids can learn about time zones, the highest landmarks & mountains, the deepest depth of the seas, maps (and how CA was once drawn as an island), what countries are shaped like food or animals, National Anthems, ocean inhabitants, places who have changed their names, capital location changes and so much more.
I Can't wait to read the next in the series!
There are illustrations, extra credit and pop quizzes throughout and a 20 question quiz at the end (all answers are provided). Kids can learn about time zones, the highest landmarks & mountains, the deepest depth of the seas, maps (and how CA was once drawn as an island), what countries are shaped like food or animals, National Anthems, ocean inhabitants, places who have changed their names, capital location changes and so much more.
I Can't wait to read the next in the series!
October 16, 2016
This book was a lot of fun, and I managed to learn a lot. Granted, I'm not the target audience for this book, but because I like Ken Jennings, I thought I'd give it a try. It's written with a silly style, but that's okay. Silliness can be good, especially when you're a kid. There were all sorts of delightfully intriguing and obscure facts in this little gem, as well as some basic geographical knowledge, charts, lists, etc. The illustrations are fun, and overall, it's a likable book for smart kids who want to become a bit smarter in the area of geography. I may not be a kid, but I might just check out Jennings' other Junior Genius books sometime.
September 20, 2015
Ken Jennings has some dad joke tendencies, but he also writes really interesting books. I love geography, and I enjoyed this presentation of it for children. The cartoonish nature is a bit too much for me, so I didn't love it. There is a cool bit of the book where the answers to various questions are written in code so that the answer isn't given away so easily. (I've always hated it when answers are written upside down. People can read upside down, guys. If I accidentally glance at the answer, I know it.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews