A funny and fascinating look at the countries of the worldMeet the Brainwaves, hilarious little mischief-makers who are about to take your child on an amazing journey around the world to discover everything about our planet.These pint-sized pals will show children all about what the planet is made of, where the highest football stadium is and why Brazil is called Brazil. They’ll join the teeny travellers as they take a camel trek to the pyramids, have a ball at a bonzer Australian beach party, and play the maddest game of crazy golf across North America.Packed with fantastic fold-out pages with mad maps, perfect pull-outs and fabulous facts on places and people, your child will learn loads of stuff about climate, oceans and Earth in space. It’s a terrific tour of our world!
Ralph Lazar was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1967 and studied law and economics at the University of Cape Town and the London School of Economics.
After several years of working in finance, Ralph moved with his wife-to-be Lisa Swerling, to Cerf Island (population of 52) in the Seychelles, where they (very remotely) started their illustration licensing business Last Lemon. Later based in London and now northern California, they have worked with many publishers including Chronicle Books, Penguin and Andrews McMeel in the US, and Harper Collins and DK in the UK.
Ralph and Lisa's book creations include the illustrated project Happiness is..., which has been translated into over 20 languages and has over 3 million followers online, and the New York Times Bestselling Me Without You.
This DK book is an Atlas that is entirely illustrated. It's wonderful as a work of art.
However, DK publishes Atlas, which includes satellite photographs, so if you are purchasing a book for the purpose of studying geography, we recommend the latest version below. https://www.dk.com/us/book/9781465429...
Title: Lazar, R., Swerling, L., & Adams, S. (2008). The most fantastic atlas of the whole wide world by the Brainwaves. United States of America: DK Publishing.
Call Number: 912
Reference Type: Geographical Reference
Description: This illustrated, detailed world atlas is recommended for grades 3-6. The book’s illustrations are zany, bright and especially appealing to young students.
Price: $19.99
Relevance and Relationship: Many state and national standards require students to be able to read maps and identify geographical features. In this book of atlases, students are able to study world geography through interesting illustrated maps.
Purpose: The purpose of this book is to promote map literacy and understanding of geography. Educators can use this book for geography lessons or allow students to read it individually. The book is inexpensive and could easily be purchased with an elementary classroom teacher’s budget.
Validity: This book is included on the NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People and is recommended by the School Library Journal.
Format: Print.
Arrangement/Presentation: The book has 61 pages, including the glossary and index. There are typical maps of continents and an atypical map for each continent. Some of the “atypical” maps include “An African Abode” and “Crazy Golf” in the North America map section. The illustrations are silly and age appropriate for elementary students.
Diversity: This book addresses the needs of visual learners. While map reading is a visual process, illustrated maps would be more appealing to young students and keep their attention. In addition, this book is a great tool for bilingual students because of its short text boxes and detailed images.
Reviewed by: Bocka, C. D. (2009). [The Most Fantastic Atlas of the Whole Wide World by the Brainwaves]. School Library Journal, 55(3), 159-160.
Just as an Oreo dipped in white fudge is more that just a cookie, The Most Fantastic Atlas in the Whole Wide World is more than your typical guide to geography. Continuing DK’s quest to make reference-y material entertaining, tiny characters (Warning: Precursor to a Possible 2009 Trend) called Brainwaves tour the continents, highlighting more facts than you can shake a stick at. It’s got the maps, but it also covers topics that most atlases don’t. A nice combination of readability and knowledge.
Gatefolds are the focus here. Each continent is featured, and then splits in two as the double gatefolds open to reveal more in-depth facts. On the spread in between each continent, the Brainwaves provide a closer look at various aspects of the earth, including climate, people, and earth’s surface.
Where’s Waldo fans will be happy. Not only are there swarms of Brainwaves per page, all doing different things, but there is a blue-clad ‘Wave that only appears once per two page spread. Looking for him ensures close inspection of each page.
Nice for browsing, The Most Fantastic… is not intended to be your go-to geography resource. Be sure you’ve got a straightforward atlas on hand before adding this one to the collection.
Upon first cover cracking, the amount of info can be overwhelming. In fact, I set this one aside for a while, not ready for the flood of facts. But sit down, give it a minute or two, and I’m venturin’ to guess that you’ll be happy you did.
Lazar, R., Swerling, L., & Adams, S. (2008). The most fantastic atlas of the whole wide world by the Brainwaves.United States of America: DK Publishing.
Citation by: Sheba Ramsey
Type of Reference: Geographical Reference
Call Number: 912
Content/Scope: This reference is intended to assist students in grades 3-6 in acquiring map skills. This book would make a good resource for teaching geography lessons.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The publisher is well known in the educational fields and produces reliable material.
Arrangement/Presentation: This references contain typical and atypical maps of continents. Some arrangements are listed left to right while others create a zigzag pattern over several pages. The illustrations are almost whimsical and are visual appealing to younger students.
Relation to other works: This reference is like many other atlases in that it does show relationships to places and land features. This reference may need to be up-dated.
Accessibility/Diversity: This reference is a visual learner’s tool. The illustrations and coloring make it easy to understand.
Cost: $19.99
Professional Review: Bocka, Colleen D. School Library Journal , March 2009, Vol. 55 Issue 3, p159-160
Lazar, R., Swerling, L., & Adams, S. (2008). The most fantastic atlas of the whole wide world by the Brainwaves. United States of America: DK Publishing.
By: Jayne Wilson
Reference Type: Atlas
Call Number: 912
Description: Facts about the continents, as well as oceans and earth’s structure
Review Source: Bocka, C. D. (2009). [The Most Fantastic Atlas of the Whole Wide World by the Brainwaves]. School Library Journal, 55(3), 159-160.
Relevance and Relationship: $19.99, resource for addressing geography standards
Purpose: Gives readers a very interesting look at world continents
Validity: Both publisher and review are reputable sources, published within the last 4 years
Format: 61 pages, color charts, diagrams, maps
Arrangement and Presentation: Full-page spreads, fold-out pages, random text direction, attempts at making information presented humorous
Diversity: A less traditional, more entertaining atlas that can provide diversity to the more structured atlases available in the library