Everything under the sun by Molly Oldfield

Molly Oldfield, the host of the UK weekly podcast, ‘Everything Under the Sun’ and author of a previously published book with the same name has complied a second compendium of 366 questions which her young listeners have sent in from around the world including Australia.  

Like the first book in the series, this book begins with a note for the reader where it is explained that some of replies to the questions are factual while others may be the author’s or a contributor’s opinions. These contributors include experts in their fields, artists, poets and thinkers.  This is followed by some information about Molly Oldfield and then the contents page where each chapter is a month of the year. Each day of the year poses a different question with a thoughtful answer provided.

The very first question for January 1 in the book is Where is the happiest place in the world? The answer in some detail explains that Finland came out as the winner measuring Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but the author also mentions Bhutan which measures gross domestic happiness. Two questions in February which may encourage both children and adults deeper thinking are: Why do bad things exist? and Why do we have curse words? For some younger readers no book is ever complete without the token poo reference! In this case there are two poo questions: Why do monkeys throw poo? and How do you make electricity out of poo? Throughout the book accompanying each question are colourful illustrations by a number of artists. These visual images support the text and add to the understanding of the answer given.

In the final pages are thank yous to the contributors, artists and children. As well Molly encourages children to keep asking questions and maybe visiting a library to find answers starting with the librarian and then searching in books. This book would be a wonderful classroom or home-schooling resource.

Themes: Questions & Answers, Worldwide Topics.

Kathryn Beilby