Atlas of Firsts: A World of Amazing Record Breakers    by Clive Gifford Order:  USA  Can Houghton Mifflin, 2009 (2009) Hardcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch This fascinating book is filled from cover to cover with a series of firsts that cover centuries of human achievement. It's arranged by countries, and the author takes readers six years of age and older on a journey around the world. At each stop there's a map of the country and icons that denote the firsts that happened here. A short paragraph describes the event, accomplishment or situation. For example, flip the book open to the two page map of Canada and the Arctic and you'll find over twenty entries. You'll discover that Canada's first international airport opened in 1928 in Winnipeg and that the country's oldest dance company, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, is located in that city. Even more interesting is the fact that the first whoopee cushion was invented in Toronto by the JEM Rubber Company in 1930. As a youngster reads this entertaining book he'll discover that Oymyakon is the world's coldest village. The Russian community recorded a low of -94 degrees Fahrenheit. He'll also find this tasty tidbit - the world's longest sushi roll was made in Saga, Japan, in 2002. It weighed in at 2,205 pounds and was 5,988 feet in length! Atlas of Firsts is a fun book filled with colorful maps and tantalizing trivia; the entire family will enjoy paging through this clever and highly informative book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews