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.

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!

Help your child learn all about the world with My First Encyclopedia by Priddy Books. Divided into eight subject chapters: Earth, Living World, Animals, History, Science, Things That Go, Human Body and People & Culture. Will provide hours of fun reading for curious children. Approved by subject specialists, every page is packed full of interesting information written in accessible language for children. Specially commissioned illustrations and stunning photographs help children understand each topic.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

An engaging, alternative history of the world for children, which helps to make sense of today. The present can loom very large in a child's mind: all the crises and challenges of the modern world can feel overwhelming and at times dispiriting. This book is a big history of the world, from the beginnings of the universe to now, which places the reader at its centre. It encourages them to think about how and why they experience the world as they do and offers a helpful perspective by placing their thoughts and feelings in the context of our history and evolution. Big Ideas From History is an immense story of what has happened through time that speaks personally and constructively to a growing mind. What might the dinosaurs or the ancient Egyptians, the Aztec warriors or the Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century tell us that could be interesting and useful to hear now? The insights we need are scattered in time and place, waiting to be discovered. The book also looks to the future and asks the reader to imagine a world they would like to live in. What might they learn from self-knowledge? How can they grow, develop and create their own place in history? It is a thoughtful and inspiring introduction to the world around us, which encourages the child to engage with themselves and others through history.

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!

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.

History leaps from the page in this completely revised and updated edition of the critically acclaimed Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. From humankind's earliest history right through to the technological and social revolutions of the current day, this trusted reference provides a one-stop source for research, and is the perfect companion to any study of world history. The encyclopedia is organized chronologically and then thematically within each time period. A timeline runs across the top of each page for context. Each section includes biographies of important people and key features on the art, architecture, and technology of the period. A brand-new chapter details modern-day events, such as the fight for equality, the threat of climate change, the COVID-19 crisis, and space exploration and discoveries. With more than 2,000 full-colour illustrations, photographs, and source materials, as well as research-friendly back matter and index, this encyclopedia provides a beautiful, authoritative reference that is essential for any home, school, or library.