Actually Factually

By Guy Campbell

A fascinating collection of misunderstandings, mistakes and misconceptions, Actually Factually reveals the reality behind just a few of the myths that get mixed up with truth. If you really thought that Christopher Columbus discovered America or that water goes down the plughole the other way in Australia this book will bring you right back to Earth with a bump. Full of fantastic facts to wow teachers, friends and family, this is the perfect book for kids who want to know more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael O'Mara
• Release date: Jun 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781907151873

Guy Campbell

Guy Campbell has been a writer and graphic designer since 1986. He started the Creative and Graphics company Moran Campbell da Vinci in 1990 producing corporate ID, advertising (newspapers, magazines, point of sale, posters) and packaging (specialising in toys) for, among other clients, Harrods and Hamleys. Writing credits has included over 40 books for children, a monthly comic for children, hundreds of cartoon strips for newspapers and magazines worldwide, puzzles for books, newspapers and magazines, comedy sketches for TV and a short comic play for BBC radio 5.

Book preview

Written by Guy Campbell

Illustrated by Paul Moran

Edited by Sally Pilkington

With special thanks to James Kearns

First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Buster Books,

An imprint of Michael O’Mara Books Limited

9 Lion Yard

Tremadoc Road

London SW4 7NQ

This electronic edition published in 2011

ISBN: 9781907151873 in EPub format

ISBN: 9781780550046 in Mobipocket format

ISBN: 9781906082185 in hardback print format

Copyright © Buster Books Limited 2009

All rights reserved. You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Jacket design by Angie Allison and Zoe Quayle

www.mombooks.com/busterbooks

Contents

A Dog Year Is Seven Human Years

Water Goes Down The Plughole The Other Way In Australia

The Average Person Swallows Eight Spiders Every Year While Asleep

Christopher Columbus Discovered America

An Insect Dies After It Stings You

You Can’t Find The End Of A Rainbow

There Are More People On Earth Now Than Have Ever Lived

Mount Everest Is The Highest Mountain In The World

Leonardo Da Vinci Invented The Helicopter

The Water In Your Glass Was Once Dinasour Wee

We Only Use Ten Per Cent Of Our Brains

Lemmings Jump Off Cliffs

No Two Snowflakes Are Identical

All The Vitamins In A Potato Are In Its Skin

The Wright Brothers Invented The Aeroplane

Fluffy, White Clouds Are Lighter Than Air

Swallowed Chewing Gum Can Wrap Around Your Organs And Kill You

Chocolate Gives You Spots

The Sahara Is The World’s Largest Desert

Wrap Up Warm Or You’ll Catch A Cold

The Great Wall Of China Is The Only Man-Made Object Visible From Space

Microwaves Cook From The Inside Out

Carrots Help You See In The Dark

There Is No Gravity In Space

There Are 24 Hours In A Day

Global Warming Is Caused By Cows Farting

Pirates Made People Walk The Plank

A Goldfish Has A Memory Of About Three Seconds

Elephants Are Scared Of Mice

Bats Are Blind

‘Ring a Ring O’ Roses’ Is About The Black Death

Heat Rises

Bears Hibernate

Tutankhamun’s Tomb Was Cursed

Napoleon Was Short

Reviews for Actually Factually

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I've been reading non-fiction to relax, lately, which is my excuse for this one. It's aimed at kids, and basically debunks various urban myths like the idea that people swallow eight spiders per year in their sleep. It's very simplistic, but kids would probably enjoy it, and it wasn't bad for me to read in the twenty minutes before bed, either.

Edit: Now I'm reading the QI Book of General Ignorance, I have a feeling this is plagiarised. I'll compare them side by side when I've got chance...