Davis, author of the bestselling Don't Know Much About... series for adults, is known for his light writing tone and thorough yet accessible explanations of complex topics. He recently created two new books for children inspired by some of his popular works for adults, which in turn were captured on audio. Science is far from dull on these solid recordings that explore geography and astronomy. Wyman authoritatively presents fun facts and anecdotes with a lively, almost gee-whiz air. ("Is the solar system as old as the universe? Nope. Our Sun and planets are only middle aged compared to the universe. Five billion years ago, the solar system was a huge, cold, spinning cloud of dust and gas...."). The material's q&a format (children read the questions and Wyman reads the answers), complete with several fast-paced "true/false" and "pop quiz" segments keep things rolling along—and keep listeners hooked, at least for a while. Because of the sheer volume of information presented here, these programs are likely to be more easily digested in small portions. But no listener will walk away from these titles without several factoids that will not only help with school subjects but will sound impressive when repeated. Ages 8-up. (Aug.)
