What an amazing book for any child (or adult) that loves to learn about all things! This book has a little bit of everything - space, money, plants, transportation, hobbies, jobs, animals, tech, history, the body, food, our world, and other random things. Every page is colorfully illustrated with amazing detail. I loved all of the little bits of information on each topic. I really think that helps keep a child's attention. Every page is something new to keep the reader entertained, reading, and learning. I like that this book contains a table of contents, Jargon Buster (glossary), and an index. Some nonfiction books do not have these features and with all of the information, they really make it easy to navigate if you're reading for certain topics. I will be buying this book for my classroom! I think it will be worth the investment and a very well loved book!

Thank you Jane Wilsher and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley. This review was voluntarily written and all opinions are my own.

What’s the Actually Factually Difference? by Jane Wilsher is a fun and informative encyclopedia of many comparative pairs, grouped within themes of space, transportation, food, weather, human body, animals and so many more topics.

The book is well laid-out with plenty of fun facts, well-explained concepts and my children especially appreciated the use of the ‘jargon buster’ and index to find extra information of interest.
My children have been so excited to share their learnings from this delightful resource, and it has prompted many other learning opportunities. The colourful and appropriately detailed illustrations, make this a visually appealing resource.

This would be a wonderful addition to any home or school library, or a great gift for curious minds of varying ages.

With thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures and NetGalley, for the digital review copy for review consideration with an honest review.

Colourfully illustrated children's non-fiction presenting various terms and concepts starting from astronomy through geography, animals, human body and interspersed with bonus pages of random factoids.

I actually thought it would be about commonly confused / misspelled words or homophones, but it's more general pop-science introducing basic concepts from various areas of knowledge.

Personally I feel when it comes to children's non-fiction it's best when it focuses on something specific than being so generic (cue my nostalgia about my childhood collection of books about dinosaurs, sharks, planes, architecture, astronomy and who knows what else). It's probably a good reference book to create trivia games for kids and such.

When it comes to the illustration style, I felt it was very simple and even though characters had different skin colours, they felt having same-face syndrome as if a default white person was recoloured.

Recommended for early elementary school children who are just learning basic concepts about the world and want to expand their vocabulary.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC!

I loved the way this science book was organized. The pictures are great and have just the right amount of detail, and are accompanied by so much information. This is a book that could entertain the same child for years because of the layers of information.
When I first started taking more advanced science classes, we learned about classification, and that's the thing this book does really well. Kids can learn to look at their world and figure things out on their own.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I got this bookm from netgalley, thank you for the oprotunity to read it.

This is a great non fiction book that would work for 3-10 year olds. Lots of nice fact for curios people. And nice pictures.
I myself leared some new things at 32 while reading it.

In today`s world of fake facts, fake news, and so many stories, non fiction like this has an important place in people bookshelfs.

I highly recomend this book.

It comes out the 4th of february, I say preorder it for the kid in your life. Or yourself.

Oh this was a great read. The illustrator did a great job. There is tons of information from outer space to the human body with lots to learn.

This book was so fun! It shows a great way to feed the knowledge that many neurodivergent students crave and can give them different types of facts. I would love to get a copy of this for my classroom when it is published.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased, honest review of the book.

Nonfiction book containing similarities and differences on several topics. What's the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? The difference between a country and a continent, and many more fun-filled sections. Encyclopedic book on technology, space, animals, and more.

"What's the Actually Factually Difference?" is a lighthearted informational book that explains the difference between many sets of similar words and concepts. I found this book to have great, colorful illustrations, and clear explanations, appropriate for a kid to read and understand. I would recommend this book especially for a precocious reader, as they will probably encounter some of these terms in their regular reading, and this helps clarify. My personal favorite was in the animals section: spine vs. quill. Very cool!

I love everything about What's the Actually Factually Difference? Everything works together to catch your eyes and capture your interest:

- the use of different fonts and backgrounds on the pages,
- illustrations that perfectly match the information being presented,
- the clear and complete but not complicated explanations on a plethora of topics,
- the glossary
- the many ways you can read this book (from start to finish, the open the book wherever approach, find your topic via the glossary, or make a game of it)

This is a fascinating book that will be enjoyed by curious children (ages 4 - 12) and the adults who love them alike.

My thanks to Words and Pictures for permitting me to access a DRC via NetGalley. Publication is 2/4/25. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

What’s the Actually Factually Difference? by Jane Wilsher is an engaging and educational treasure trove for curious minds of all ages. With its vibrant illustrations and playful yet informative tone, this book dives into fascinating comparisons to explore the differences between things we often assume are the same. From decoding the contrasts between crocodiles and alligators to unraveling what separates meteors from meteorites, Wilsher has crafted a delightful guide that makes learning irresistible.

The book’s format is particularly appealing, featuring bite-sized chunks of information that are perfect for young readers while still engaging enough for adults. It sparks curiosity by posing questions readers might not have thought to ask, making it a wonderful resource for classrooms, family reading, or trivia enthusiasts.

Illustrations throughout the book bring the content to life, complementing the text and making complex concepts accessible. Wilsher’s ability to blend humor with factual accuracy ensures that readers walk away both entertained and enlightened.

Whether you're a budding scientist or simply someone who loves quirky facts, What’s the Actually Factually Difference? is a delightful journey through the world of knowledge. It encourages readers to look closer, ask questions, and embrace the joy of discovery. Highly recommended!

Well I don't want to sound a curmudgeon, but I would have hoped people can tell the difference between sunrise and sunset – likewise thunder and lightning. But those pairs are here in relevant scientific chapters, and two of, we're told, 150 couples of often-confused things this covers and clarifies.

To be fair the book offers far more factoids than that – just the page next to the sunrise/set duo, on a star and a sun, tells us why stars twinkle from our point of view, and that lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun. And within these pages are key things that adults will still sometimes have to pause and think over. The difference between atom and molecule… which is latitude and which longitude. It doesn't impact daily life how an alligator is not a crocodile, but it might give you kudos with the kids.

But the thing is, this is slight – and yes it does allow for the random browse to give you a chance discovery. But so would any other books – if you are caught between bacteria and viruses you'd look at a medicine-minded tome, and probably find a lot more that you didn't know you needed to know. The conceit of pairing everything is kind of weakened when we see more than two kinds or teeth and more stringed instruments contrasted. I mean, yes, this has to be welcomed for being that varied, but so much of the couples are quick one-point round-ups delivered six to a page that this leaves you crying out for something more in-depth. A quirky educational effort, trying to be a school library in one, versus a school library proving that ain't never gonna happen.

This is the type of informative book I would've loved to have as a child. Great for inquisitive little minds.

I am literally obsessed with this book.

I would have begged my parents to buy me this as a kid, and as an adult it's one I'll have on hand for gifts!

This is jammed packed with fun and detailed information on all sorts of similar things!

The illustrations are absolute perfection - I especially loved the chapter on space!

Learned and re-learned things from this book! What a great compilation of facts and trivia. Would def recommend this to fellow readers, especially to younger ones. Would love to get a physical copy for myself and the kids in the fam!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this eCopy to review

What's the Actually Factually Difference? is a delightful encyclopaedia that captivates young readers with its engaging exploration of over 150 pairs of commonly confused items. From the differences between alligators and crocodiles to the distinctions between wormholes and black holes, Wilsher provides clear and concise explanations that make learning fun and accessible.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Liz Kay, whose vibrant and detailed artwork brings each topic to life. The illustrations not only complement the text but also help to visually differentiate between the pairs being discussed.

Each entry is structured to include definitions, similarities, differences, and additional fun facts, making it easy for children to understand and remember the information. The topics covered are diverse, ranging from space and the human body to food, technology, transport, and animals. This variety ensures that there is something of interest for every reader.

What's the Actually Factually Difference? is perfect for curious young minds who enjoy learning new things and sharing interesting facts with friends and family. It's an excellent resource for both educational and recreational reading, encouraging children to explore the world around them with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Thank you to Jane Wilsher and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. I am always on the look out for new non-fiction reads for the “But Why” children in my life. This book covers a great deal of different topics, from space to animals to the human body, and does so in a way that makes it very digestible for young readers. I would recommend this book to others who have curious little ones around as a way to answer what the true differences are between many similar things!

This book is incredible. The page layout really appeals to children, in a simple and easy-to-read manner. It displays facts in an interesting way, and I spent hours taking in all the incredible information which the book had to offer.

The illustrations featured in the book are bright, colourful and full of life - helping younger children especially to digest key topics broken down within the pages of the book.

An excellent non-fiction book. I have no complaints!

This is a fun way to teach students various topics and terms. It is like reading pages and pages of Venn Diagram without the diagram. It is a brilliant concept. I just put it in my shopping cart as well. Once it is published, I will check out the item.

Loved this book, both educational and fun!
It covers tons of topics like space, animals, science, and history, keeping young readers hooked. This was equally enjoyed by both my 4 and 7 year old boys, I would love to have a printed version as a reference book & for bedtime reading!