GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

Guinness World Records aren't just for big kids anymore.

This early reader is designed to get beginning readers hooked on the weird and wonderful factoids that have long intrigued older reluctant readers. Repackaged from the famous book, it concentrates on foods kids know and love. The 32 pages are loosely organized by meals, starting with breakfast (eggs, cereal, pancakes, juice) and going through lunch and dinner (salad, soup, a 320-pound grilled-cheese sandwich, hot dogs, pizza, mac and cheese). Most of the records are of the “largest” category, but three are “most expensive” (hot dog, hamburger, and pie), which may not impress young readers as much. A few should come with “don't try this at home” warnings—cracking eggs with one hand and smashing watermelons with the head would make quite a mess. Others may be in the “does anyone care?” category—the heaviest turnip, the largest cookie-jar collection, for example. Each is accompanied with an entertaining color photo of the extraordinary food, its creator, or consumer. With only 28 records included, and with its large font and limited background information, this excerpted version won't substitute for the full record book but may intrigue younger children enough that they will dip into the original Guinness book or website.

Kids who don't want to read much of anything will eat this up.