Atlas of Firsts: A World of Amazing Record Breakers

Beginning with the formation of the Earth, this guide to “firsts,” organized geographically, features playful illustrations and captions that highlight a hodgepodge of world events. For a section on South America and Antarctica, a bag of coffee beans symbolizes “Brazil's first coffee plantation,” and an illustrated primate in Madidi National Park represents “the first species of monkey to be named by auction.” A spread on African firsts cites such events as Zimbabwe hosting the “All-African games for the first time in 1995” and the filming of Star Wars in the desert near Tawzar (beside an image of R2-D2 and C-3P0). Trivia fans will find plenty to pore over. Ages 6–10. (July)