Horrible Geography

Horrible Geography

Redesigned front cover of Freaky Peaks (2001)
Author Anita Ganeri
Illustrator Mike Phillips
Cover artist Mike Phillips
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Subject Geography
Genre Children's
Publisher Scholastic
Publication date
 1999-present

Horrible Geography is a series of books which is a spin-off from the Horrible Histories series written by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Mike Phillips, and published in the UK by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in Geography by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant. The series currently has 21 titles, including specials, activity books and handbooks.[1]

Inspiration

As an answer to the question "Where do you get your inspiration from when you're writing a book [in the Horrible Geography series]?" in an interview off the Schlostic website, Anita Ganeri responded:

Well, geography is about the world around you so I spend a lot of time staring out of my window! In between staring, I get information from books, TV programmes, magazines and the internet. I am also a member of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) in London. It's where all the great geographical expeditions of the past set out from. They have a fantastic library and lots of things belonging to explorers like Captain Scott (included stuffed penguins) and David Livingstone (including his diary, boots etc). The trouble is, finding out about deserts or poles etc is so fascinating, I tend to get carried away and do far more research than I can cram into the book.[2]

Titles in the series

Original titles

Specials

Specials are a bigger size than the other books. They are:

Handbooks

Two Books in One

Other

Book makeover

In order to follow suit with the other main series in the Horrible saga - namely Horrible Histories, Horrible Science, Horribly Famous and Murderous Maths, the Horrible Geography underwent a makeover, changing the cover of all their books. All of the original books have been altered, though none of the Two Books in One have.

Critical reception

The books have received positive reception as a whole series, as well as significant praise on individual books of the series. In a review of Desperate Deserts it has been commented that "This book is great and I love it. The desert is amazing. I used to think that geography was boring but now I have definitely changed my mind!".[3]

Cultural impact

Title Earth-Shattering Earthquakes and Violent Volcanoes is described by Margaret Mallett in her book Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11 as being a book that "entertains as well as providing quality explanations for phenomena". The title is further describes as being "organised in ten chapters" and "[using] clear dagrams and clear text and includes detail that will entertain children".[4]

Creative Writing For Dummies by Maggie Hamand explains that the Scholastic series, along with Horrible Histories and Horrible Science have been hugely popular with children. "They aim to provide accurate factual information in an entertaining way, in an inexpensive paper format with black and white illustrations".[5]

According to The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature: Dubo - Lowr, Volume 2 Jack David Zipes, Anita Ganeri's series (debuting in 1997), along with Nick Arnold series Horrible Science (debuting in 1996), Kjartan Poskitt's Murderous Maths series (debuting in 1997), and the multi-authored The Knowledged series (debuting in 1997) "follow in the same vein [as]" and "treat their subject with similar humour [to]" Horrible Histories.[6]

Travel with Kids by William Gray describes the series as "geographical gems in this amusing series of paperbacks for children aged seven and above".[7]

According to Growing and knowing: a selection guide for children's literature by Mary Trim, "Middle Years readers...who contributed their book review to this text" enjoy the Horrible Geography along with The Knowledge and Murderous Maths.[8]

Mesoamerican Myth: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History refers to Horrible Geography as being an "award winning..series"[9]

In 2008, The Geographical Association gave Horrible Geography of the World a Highly Commended Award for its "great contribution to school geography". The judges liked the " fact that the book was full of ‘quirky facts’ as well as loads of useful and interesting information about the world we live in".[10]

The handbook Planet in Peril won the 2009 Blue Peter Book Awards in the category of Best Book with Facts.[11]

In 2011, Anita Ganeri was presented with RSGS Geographical Education Medal for her "Inspiring, yet Gruesome, Geography Facts".[12]

As of 2011, the series has sold 2 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages.[12]

References

  1. ↑ De Groot, Jerome (2009). "Notes". Consuming history: historians and heritage in contemporary popular culture. Routledge. p. 258. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.moon-monkey.com/zone/authors_a-ganeri_interview.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.shvoong.com/books/children-and-youth/1846836-desperate-deserts-horrible-geography
  4. ↑ Mallett, Margaret (2010). "Choosing explanation texts for different age groups". Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11: A Comprehensive Guide for Teachers and Student Teachers. Routledge. p. 320. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  5. ↑ Hamand, Maggie. "Considering Non-Fiction for Children". Creative Writing For Dummies. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  6. ↑ Zipes, Jack David (2006). The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature: Dubo - Lowr, Volume 2. Oxford University Press. p. 288. ISBN 9780195146561. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  7. ↑ Gray, William. "30 Best Buys". Travel with Kids. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  8. ↑ Trim, Mary (2004). Growing and knowing: a selection guide for children's literature. p. 154. ISBN 9783598115813. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  9. ↑ Ganeri, Anita (2007). Mesoamerican Myth: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History. M E SHARPE INC. ISBN 9780765681065. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ http://www.scholastic.co.uk/department/home/blogs/2570
  11. ↑ https://education.scholastic.co.uk/content/6762
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.prlog.org/11627573-royal-scottish-geographical-society-honours-horrible-geography-author.html

External links