What in the Wow? is written by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, two authors who do a podcast together. There are lots of random facts and photographs with cartoony elements sharing gross and cool facts. The book is organized into chapters. The topic appeals to struggling readers as well as it's format. There is one fact or so per page with facts on space, animals, human body, science, history, geography and more. Recommended for grades 3rd - 7th.

Thanks to HarperCollins Kids for the ARC of this!

My two Wow in the World fans really enjoyed this! There were lots of fun facts and cool illustrations. It was easy for my 6 year old to sit through, as there was not much text per page and it was very engaging!

When my daughter (now 10) first got a tablet to use for various educational and entertainment purposes, she soon found the Wow in the World podcast by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. She loves the zany personalities of these voices and the podcast filled her random-but-educational science facts cravings. The book What in the Wow!? by the same personalities (illustrated by Dave Coleman; Clarion Books, 2023)? is filled with, as the subtitle says “250 Bonkerballs Facts.”


What in the Wow?! has wacky illustrations interspersed on each page as well as illustrations collaged with real photos, giving it the same eccentric feel as the podcast. My daughter eagerly ate up the information with page-turning interest. For those more interested in browsing, the books is organized by subject, including animals, technology, “eh, gross,” and many more subjects, and the brightly colored pages likewise attract readers. The last section is all about pigeons, and is “narrated” by Reggie, the pigeon who is a contributing member of the podcast crew. What an amusing touch!

I received a digital review copy of this book.

I’m so glad I found this book! My son loves weird (read gross) facts so this is right up his alley! We will have to check out the whole series now! It’s really fun.

I really loved the format of this book, with each page highlighting photographs combined with one or two facts. Many "Did you Know?" or unbelievable fact books are text-heavy or upper elementary reading level, making them inaccessible to elementary school students who might be most interested in exploring. This was very accessible, between the reading level and illustrations, so that even our youngest elementary students can begin exploring browsable nonfiction and have their interest piqued by a topic they had never heard of before. I recommend both this book and looking into the rest of the series.

What in the Wow?! Will be a terrific addition to the section of my library that has almanacs, Guinness Books and other amazing fact books. My students love them and I can’t wait to share this one too! With hilarious illustrations and awesome facts, the What in the Wow book will have a long wait list. I love that there are different sections (animals, Brain food, Bonkerballs Weather, etc). There is something for everyone. I loved the Wow in the World podcast and this book complements it! Thank you to @netgalley and @clarionbooks for sharing this eARC! #netgalley #wowintheworldwhatinthewow

What a crazy, zany collection of facts. Like the title says, it's "bonkerballs" facts. This is the latest in the series of "Wow in the World" collection that ranges from space to human bodies and everything in between. Facts are colorfully illustrated and presented in a format appealing to kids and adults alike. The trivia kept a grandmother and a 9-year-old entertained from the first to the last page. If you have a reader in the family who is both curious and imaginative, this is the perfect read!

💥 This is a fun book! It is full of crazy facts and things that will make you go WOW!

💥 Categories of WOWs include animals, the human body, space, dinosaurs, weather, inventions, numbers, and more! There is even a bonus section at the end that is just about pigeons!

💥 There is also an “Ew! Gross!” section that includes plenty of pee and poop facts. I’m sure those are the ones kids will love the most!

💥 Every page is bright and fun – mixing real images with hilarious illustrations. With just one or two facts per page, it is great for reading page by page, or even browsing favorite sections.

💥 Kids will love this book. I know I would have devoured it as a kid, and I would have LOVED sharing all my bonkerballs knowledge with others!

💥 If you’ve ever wondered why there is poop on the moon, what color sunsets are on Mars, where the word robot comes from, or what the shiny coating on jelly beans is made from… then this book is a must-have!

💥 This book is 208 pages and the reading age is 8 to 12 years old (although I’m confident children outside of those age ranges would love it, too).

Thank you @NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books/Clarion Books for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Wow indeed! We’re always excited to get another Wow in the World title, and this didn’t disappoint! In fact, bed time got delayed because reading a few facts turned into finishing the entire book. Fun illustrations and colorful pictures pair with 1-2 fascinating facts per pages, which is the perfect amount, especially if you’re reading them out loud. This will appeal across elementary ages, as both my 1st and 4th graders found the trivia interesting and engaging.