Humanity’s horizons are expanding once again, and our world is experiencing unprecedented change. Keeping up with this dizzying revolution are the Guinness World Records adjudicators, who’ve been busier than ever documenting the Officially Amazing. The result is Guinness World Records 2023!

We start with a tour of our Solar System and beyond, exploring astronomical superlatives in a chapter dedicated to the latest developments in the New Space Race. Back down to Earth, we delve into the natural world to encounter the animal kingdom’s mightiest and most bizarre beasts.

Get up close and personal with the most iconic human beings – the tallest, shortest, strongest and hairiest – and be amazed at the extraordinary skills on display from the world’s greatest jugglers, rock-climbers, freestylers and mermaids (yes, mermaids!).

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, we dedicate a chapter to a whistle-stop tour of our planet from the comfort of your armchair, pointing out record-worthy landmarks, tourist hot-spots and cultural phenomena.

Our team of gaming consultants and editors have picked out the Top 25 Greatest Gaming Records of All Time – does your favourite game get a mention?

We end with every significant new sporting achievement logged in the 30-page Sports section.

Discover the incredible history and diversity of the African continent in all its splendour with this beautifully illustrated and fact-filled encyclopedia. This fascinating and beautiful book is divided into broad geographical sections which celebrate and showcase the peoples, landscapes and wildlife from different regions of this great continent, and bright and bold illustrations bring these facts to life. Learn about the astonishing history of the continent, as the birthplace of the very first human beings, through rich historical civilisations such as the ancient Egyptians, the Benin Empire and the Kingdom of Kush, up to the development of the dynamic cities of the modern day. Africana explores: The beautiful visual cultures and artwork from across Africa, including the the printed cottons of Guinea and the mud cloth of Mali Famous figures from African history and modern-day change makers The incredible landscapes and wildlife of the continent, ranging from the deserts of the north, the rainforests of the central regions and the savannahs of the south Featuring a stunning copper foil-detailed cover, this large-format book is packed with maps, timelines and much, much more to open your eyes to the beauty and brilliance of this diverse continent.

What does a balalaika look like? What is a beat? Who was Robert Schumann? You will find answers to these and many other questions when you join Clare and Fred on their journey through music. This is an encyclopaedia compiled with children in mind, with lively conversations and beautiful illustrations. Perfect for children who love music!

Test your knowledge with 500 perplexing questions to bamboozle and delight trivia buffs both young and old with The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts. How many kinds of germs live in your bellybutton? Which creature takes a three-year-long nap? If someone asked you to spare a zeptosecond, how long would that be? Has the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever been straight? And what exactly happens to an astronaut's dirty laundry? The dazzling facts are accompanied by bright, whimsical illustrations and the questions are organized into 10 chapters: Human Body, Science and Technology, Animals, Natural World, Space, Mindbending Stuff, History, Customs and Culture, Our World, and Arts and Entertainment. Written in simple, easy-to-understand language by author Jane Wilsher, this stunning visual encyclopedia is ideal for fact-loving kids and a perfect excuse to bring the family together for some top trivia fun.

A brilliant stocking filler gift for kids this Christmas! Get ready for a whole bunch of fascinating facts and staggering stats! Bursting with 150 fun and fact-filled lists about animals, space, the world, history, technology and lots more. * Explore the top ten coolest caves * Reach new heights with the world's tallest buildings * Discover the cutest creatures on planet earth * Marvel at the cleverest computers ever made Did you know... * The harvest mouse weighs as much as a 2 pence piece * The biggest desert is in the Antarctic * There are more than 500 million pet cats in the world * The fastest rollercoaster in the world has a top speed of 240km/h With 1500 amazing facts to wow family and friends with, it's sure to be a top ten with kids!

Earth? Space? Animals? History? STEM? Britannica All New Children's Encyclopedia has them all. This beautifully illustrated, 424-page compendium of knowledge is a must-have addition to every family bookshelf and library collection! With more than 100 expert consultants from around the world, and over 1000 images, including specially commissioned illustrations and stunning photography, this single-volume Children's Encyclopedia takes Britannica s reputation for authentic, trustworthy information and brings it to a whole new audience. Unlike old encyclopedias that are structured from A to Z, this encyclopedia takes you on a journey from the beginning of time to the present day and even into the future! It explores a wide range of topics and is divided into eight chapters by subject: Universe, Earth, Matter, Life, Humans, Ancient & Medieval Times, Modern Times, and Today & Tomorrow. This book of amazing facts you can trust will provide hundreds of hours of fun learning for curious children and their families.

Fully revised and updated, and with a bright new design, Guinness World Records 2022 provides a fascinating snapshot of our world today.

Our editors have chosen to curate the book with environmental issues at the forefront of their mind, so we open with a chapter exploring what’s happening to our ecosystem and what superlative lengths people are going to make a difference. We also want to encourage readers to put their own record-breaking to good, so look out for projects that might inspire you to make a difference – so don’t just Discover Your World, Change Your World!

Despite the challenges of the past year, it’s been business as usual at Guinness World Records, and our researchers continue to field thousands of applications a month. Expect that unique mix of remarkable humans, talented pets, incredible vehicles and impressive sporting legends.

What you’ll find inside:

• Environmental champions – the eco-warriors fighting to make our planet a better place
• Wonders of the natural world, from the most intelligent creatures to the deadliest plants
• The tallest and shortest… Our record scouts have measured a host of the world’s loftiest and diminutive humans
• Pop Culture icons – we reveal the world’s most successful movie franchises, videogames, toys and brand
• Young Achievers – meet the under-16 influencers, entrepreneurs and entertainers who are taking positive steps to change the world
• Sporting heroes – we review the biggest sporting achievements of the year and put them in context alongside the greatest athletes of all time

PLUS! Look out for bonus features including free Augmented Reality dinosaurs that come to life straight off the page; more inductees into the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame, including Sir David Attenborough, astronaut Peggy Whitson and K-Pop sensations BTS; and “Virtual Visits” that take you on a journey to some of the most fascinating and record-packed visitor attractions, museums, art galleries and parks – all without leaving your home!

Do you know your Algorithms from your Brownian motion? How about your Coprolites? (That means dinosaur poo!) Discover these words and more in this illustrated STEM encyclopedia. Organised in alphabetical order and each term beautifully illustrated with humour and charm, these 100 essential concepts will fascinate scientifically minded young readers, from those ABCs all the way down to X-rays, the terrifying Yangchuanosaurus and even the true definition of Zero! There is a contents list at the front and a full index at the back, plenty of extra words and definitions ... plus mind-boggling facts too. This is the book for STEM fans!

Step back in time 2,000 years to visit the powerful Roman Empire. This beautifully illustrated book will transport you back in time to a world of emperors and centurions. Meet the Roman people and discover the treasures of their glorious empire. See gladiator battles and chariot races. Discover mythical tales of magic and monsters. Visit an ancient fast-food stall or banquet in style. Marvel at intricate mosaics, splendid treasures and ingenious inventions. Every page reveals a fabulous treasure and its unique story

Have you heard the one about the flying monk? Do you know how your bike works? What's the fastest animal on Earth? From fantastic flying machines and brave explorers of the world to special effects in the sky and gentle giants under the sea, this beautifully illustrated fact book takes your hand and helps you to understand the world around you. Perfect for little thinkers who like big ideas!

The second edition of The Encyclopedia of Middle Grades Education has been revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2005. The Encyclopedia is a comprehensive overview of the field; it contains alphabetically organized entries that address important concepts, ideas, terms, people, organizations, publications, and research studies specifically related to middle grades education. This edition contains over 210 entries from nearly 160 expert contributors, this is a 25% increase in the number of entries over the first edition. The Encyclopedia is aimed at a general audience including undergraduate students in middle?level teacher preparation programs, graduate students, higher education faculty, and practitioners andadministrators. The comprehensive list of entries are comprised of both short entries (500 words) and longer entries (2000 words). A significant number of entries appearing in the first edition have been revised and updated. Citations and references are provided for each entry.

A thrilling virtual tour animal safari. Take a hike through the world's rainforests and spot more than 200 wild, colourful, peculiar, and marvellous jungle animals - without ever leaving your own bedroom! Get up close to jaguars and sloths, swim with manatees and piranhas, and watch a bird of paradise show. The imaginative narrative makes you feel like you are actually there.

Bursting with facts on over 600 unique blocks! Minecraft continues to grow every year and Minecraft Blockopedia: Updated Edition catalogues every single block in the game. Over 200 new blocks have been added in this completely revised edition, including those from the most recent Caves & Cliffs update. Ever wanted to know how to make obsidian, or find out where you can mine for emeralds? Maybe you've wondered what you can use ancient debris or copper ore for? The answers are all contained in this comprehensive collection of blocks. Every page has been lovingly crafted from the ground up to suitably showcase each of the blocks - from deep dives on the intricate patterns of glazed terracotta and the benefits of the beacon block to concise explanations of furnace and anvil mechanics. This is the perfect gift for Minecraft fans of all generations, in a beautifully presented hardback edition. The original version of this title was a bestseller, shifting 200,000 copies in the UK alone.

Get up close to fire-breathing monsters, ferocious serpents, wise and gentle giants and multi-headed beasts. This magical menagerie will lead you on a thrilling journey through the fantastical realm of dragons. From the hundred-headed Typhon of Ancient Greek mythology to the dazzling Aztec dragon Quetzalcoatl, all sorts of magnificent beasts are brought to life from across the globe and many different cultures. Fascinating facts accompany each illustration so you can find out which dragon darted from tree to tree, how Shenlong was master of the rain and wind and which creature could hypnotize people with its blazing eyes. Discover all these facts and more in this wonderful compendium that you will revisit time and again.

Discover the dinosaurs and prehistoric animals that once roamed across Earth and commanded the oceans and seas. Completely revised with comprehensive text and new images, The Kingfisher Dinosaur Encyclopedia brings dinosaur enthusiasts closer to prehistoric life than ever before. Colourful illustrations, 3D reconstructions and step-by-step sequences detail the latest scientific research about these magnificent creatures. Discover which baby dinosaur had a footprint smaller than a fifty pence coin, witness how a recent discovery has brought scientists closer to truly knowing dinosaurs' colouring and meet the scientists who have unearthed groundbreaking revelations. Dinosaurs and reptiles from around the world are shown in concise detail, including the giants discovered in Tanzania, the remarkable early bird fossils found in the Jehol Biota ecosystem in China, and the dinosaur bone bed in New Mexico. The Kingfisher Dinosaur Encyclopedia is perfect for home learning and for school - the ultimate guide that every dinosaur fan needs. Author Michael Benton is a renowned palaeontologist and has written of several dinosaur themed children's books, as well as consulting on media productions. He has even had a dinosaur named after him! Arranged thematically into key areas, the concise text is clear, accurate, and perfectly pitched, making this an unbeatable resource for home and school.

A great introduction for young children to ever-popular topics, with charming pictures and simple text perfect for reading and talking about with young children. Topics covered include Our World, Space, Science, My Body, Animals, Dinosaurs and Long Ago.

Featuring 2,500 species and packed with stunning colour photographs, amazing animal facts, maps, and more, the new National Geographic Kids Animal Encyclopaedia is the most comprehensive on the market today, amazing and entertaining readers, while providing them with authoritative information about the animal kingdom. Thematic spreads take readers through animal homes and habitats, senses and communication, life cycle and babies, movement and migration, defences, camouflage, and adaptation, and endangered animals and conservation. Special features in each section include ANIMAL PROFILES spreads that focus in-depth on a particular animal and ANIMAL RECORDS spreads that highlight the fastest, tallest, smallest animals, etc. Exclusive FROM-THE-FIELD reports, that focus on National Geographic explorers and their stories about the animals they study, can only be found in this animal encyclopaedia.

The ultimate ABC book for beginners with over 2,500 words and 1,000 pictures! Airplane Baron von Crow is an airplane pilot. He is a daredevil who zooms through the air. Be more careful, Baron! Join Lowly Worm, Hilda Hippo and the Bear, Cat and Bunny families on an ABC adventure! With thousands of pictures, stories, and new words to explore, this one-of-a-kind treasure is a favourite with parents and children alike. 'An awe-inspiring legacy.' Dapo Adeola 'Treasure troves of detail.' Chris Mould 'A delight.' Sara Ogilvie 'What a talent.' David Tazzyman 'The epitome of charm.' Sheena Dempsey 'One of my favourite illustrators.' Allen Fatimaharan 'So much fun.' Neal Layton 'Zen-like chaos.' Rikin Parekh 'Extraordinarily detailed illustrations.' Arthur Robins

Take a thrilling journey back in time to the land of the pharaohs. This beautifully illustrated book is full of ancient secrets, glittering gold, priceless treasures and Egyptian stories from more than 3,000 years ago. Meet mighty pharaohs and powerful queens. Awaken mythical gods and magical goddesses. Unwrap a pharaoh's mummy and decipher hieroglyphics. Discover why an amulet is lucky and what gruesomness hides inside a canopic jar. Watch everyday life along the River Nile. Every page reveals a fabulous treasure and its unique story.

By the same teacher-authors of the best-selling Information Please Kid's Almanac. Hundreds of fabulous illustrations, charts, and graphs.; Hundreds of interesting sidebars filled with facts and trivia.; Thumb tabs and chapter symbols for quick access to the facts.; Eleven chapters cover women's achievements, prizes and record-setting through history, female body and health issues, international dating and marriage customs, fashion trends, and more. The newest addition to the Information Please family is sure to be a huge hit among girls aged eight to fourteen who have a variety of interests. The eleven chapters of heavily illustrated and engagingly designed material explore women's achievements (in sports, science, the fine arts, entertainment, government, business, and more), fashion trends, and dating customs around the world, and cater to a young girl's need for specific body and health information. At once informative and inspirational, The Information Please Girls' Almanac is a bo

The purrfect book for cat lovers everywhere, with enchanting illustrations and intriguing facts. Meet thirty-six exquisite, majestic, elegant, mischievous and downright adorable domestic felines, from the well-known Burmese, Persian, Maine Coon and Ragdoll to the more exotic LaPerm, Dragon li, Munchkin and Lykoi. Intriguing facts accompany every illustration, so you can find out why the Japanese Bobtail is called the singing cat, how the Egyptian Mau got its name and why the Sphynx gets sunburnt.