Member Reviews

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!

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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.

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

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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I am glad this book exists. The illustrations and the information work very well together. Excellent book for especially 8-12 yos, but suitable for sharing with the family.

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Great visuals, very informative and factual, which I guess is the whole point of the book. I actually learned some new things from this book at the age of 32. I love that there isn't one correct way to read this book and that it gives the reader ideas of how to read the book. I think it would be fun to make a game out of the book with family, friends or even a classroom of students.

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What a fantastic book for children and for adults showing the difference between two things that appear similar but are different (county, country etc). Huge wealth of knowledge and really interesting which is easy to understand! I will definitely be purchasing a copy.

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What's the Actually Factually Difference? by Jane Wilsher is an engaging, well-structured book that makes learning about the distinctions between similar things both fun and informative. With its playful tone, captivating illustrations, and well-researched facts, it’s a wonderful addition to any library, appealing to both curious children and adults who enjoy exploring the world of differences in a lighthearted way.

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This is a great reference book for children between the ages of 4-8. The illustrations are vibrant and do an excellent job of bringing the key facts together. I most appreciated that there were many comparisons when sharing facts (e.g., a stream is when water flows but is smaller than a river). In this way, the information is much more approachable for children - the format allows them to digest the facts and easily understand based on some foundational concepts they likely already know.

A special thanks to Words & Pictures publishing and the author for the ARC.

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Who knew bugs could be so fascinating? This book is beautifully illustrated, and includes sections such as record breakers, defenses, and interesting relationships. A glossary and index rounds out the book.

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„What’s the Actually Factually Difference?“ by Jane Wilsher was a very quick and lovely read. The facts were in a way that it made them easy to understand. The illustrations helped to make the book also easy to follow, keeping everyone engaged. The author managed to tackle many important and interesting topics in a short and concise way. Not only kids, but also adults can and will learn something new from this book!

Sadly, a few of the illustrations in the ebook seemed to be faulty/not finished. This threw me off a few times. If this is fixed in the printed version, it’ll be a great read!

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This book does a fantastic job of comparing and differentiating between two similar but distinct concepts, making it an ideal resource for young readers. It effectively addresses many topics that children are naturally curious about, providing clear explanations that help them easily understand the differences. A great reference title for school and public libraries that answers some very common questions children have quickly and clearly. Examples of topics covered are differences between things like comets and asteroids, telescopes and microscopes, atoms and molecules, rocks and fossils, tornadoes and hurricanes, carnivores and herbivores, and alligators and crocodiles.

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Do you have a child that asks a ton of questions and is full of curiosity?? Then this educational non-fiction book is for you! It's chock-full of fun illustrations and many different topics that would interest young readers! My son is 4 and loves to ask questions about any and everything and while this book is more geared toward 5-12, he still enjoyed looking at the pages while I read the facts to him. Each page has a topic and covers a lot of subjects ranging from space/universe, transportation, science, earth/nature, animals, jobs/hobbies, food, the body, history, tech, and a random section. It really does have so much info and will keep your young reader's attention for awhile. It's a great reference book to keep coming back to!

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