Jane P. Gardner - The Everything Kids Geography Book: From the Grand Canyon to the Great Barrier Reef - explore the world!

From the Grand Canyon to the Great Barrier Reef
explore the world!

Jane P. Gardner and J. Elizabeth Mills

Avon, Massachusetts

PUBLISHER Karen Cooper

DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier

MANAGING EDITOR,EVERYTHING SERIES Lisa Laing

COPY CHIEF Casey Ebert

ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Katie McDonough

ASSOCIATE DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Elizabeth Kassab

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Hillary Thompson

Copyright 2009 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the
publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews and photocopies
made for classroom use.

An Everything Series Book.
Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN-10: 1-59869-683-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-59869-683-7
eISBN: 978-1-60550-757-6

Printed in the United States of America.

J I H G F E D C B A

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

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Interior illustrations by Kurt Dolber.
Puzzles by Scot Ritchie.

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Visit the entire Everything series at www.everything.com

Contents

Dedication

To Jesse and Emmettthe question askers.
J.P.G.

To my parents, who took me to Japan and opened up the world to me.
I am forever grateful.
E.M.

Acknowledgments

Id like to thank Gina Panettieri for her assistance and patience with this project. Thanks to the editors at Adams Media, especially Elizabeth Kassab, for the opportunity to work on this project. Many thanks to my coauthor Elizabeth Mills for her terrific work. Thanks to Diana for getting me started. Thanks to Jane Willan for providing the required moral support. And to Eric, for everything, as always.

J.P.G.

Introduction

L ong ago, people wondered about the size and shape of the Earth. They wanted to know what lands lay on other shores, who lived there, and what their lives were like. So they built ships to sail the seas and trekked across foreign lands to explore this big world. These explorers shaped the countries we know today, carving borders, establishing capitals, and settling cities.

But geography didnt end hundreds of years ago. There are geographers today who have the same curiosities. What does it take to be a geographer? It takes some special knowledge of Earth sciences such as biology and geology. It takes some knowledge of people sciences such as anthropology. Above all, it takes a deep desire to learn new things.

You hold in your hands a guide to the countries on planet Earth. You can read about England, China, Brazil, Kenya, Wales, the United States, and many other places. Youll learn about kangaroos and lions, penguins and camels, polar bears and pandas, geckos and blue whales. Youll meet all kinds of people from big cities and small villages. You can read this book from cover to cover or skip around from one chapter to the next. The important thing is to catch the travel bug and to always be curious about everything around you.

The next time you look at a globe, perhaps the world will feel smaller and more familiar to you. Spin the globe and let your finger stop it. Where did your finger land? Perhaps you will have a chance to travel to that country and meet the people who live there. What will you say to them? Think about how youll describe your hometown and what you will learn about the country youre visiting.

Dear Parents,

Todays world is getting smaller and smaller. Television, the Internet, and other means of communication have linked us to people and events in other countries. This book is written to introduce your child to the big world out there. The EverythingKids Geography Book will take your child on a trip around the world. Each chapter will feature a different continent or region of the world, with an emphasis on the physical and cultural geography of the countries found there. Here are few of the things your child will read about in this book:

the extreme temperatures of the Sahara

the vast diversity of the Amazon Rainforest

how the jagged peaks of the Himalayas and the Andes formed

wildlife on Antarctica and near the North Pole

It is impossible to cover all of world geography in one book. This book is meant to spark your childs interest in the world and its people, animals, and landforms. Read the book with your child and discuss it. If your child is interested in a particular topic, guide him or her to other resources to find more information. Consider the following as you and your child explore the world of geography:

use a map or an atlas to find the different countries mentioned

introduce your family to the cuisine of a different country

search the Internet for more information about the culture and the people of the world

discuss the impact of climate and climate change on animals that live in different areas of the world

The possibilities are endless. We hope your child will develop an appreciation for the world around us as you read this book together!

Jane P. Gardner and J. Elizabeth Mills

CHAPTER 1

Geography Is Fun!

What Is Geography?

Whether youre already interested in geography or are just discovering it for the first time, youre going to love this book! Where else can you read about rainforests, volcanoes, penguins, and hurricanes all in one book? This book will take you on a trip around the world so you can look at the different continents and the countries that are found on them. Youll also take a peek at the people and animals living in these countries and what their lives might be like. Whether you are traveling north, south, east, or west, you will discover new and exciting things about the world of geographybut first you have to know what exactly geography is! There is probably more to it than you think.