Book excerpt: Which is the biggest country in the world? Which one has the most people? Which one has three capital cities? Find the answers to these questions and more in the pages of this illustrated reference guide to all the countries of the world. Explore the planet in this fact-filled Pocket Genius book for children aged 8-12 as you journey across the world to discover what makes it special. Learn about each nation's geography, climate and economics supplemented by comprehensive reference data, including the national flag, official name, capital city, population, total area, population density, languages, religions, demographics, type of government and currency, all meticulously researched from the latest sources. Each country entry has a full color map showing terrain, major places and geographical features. There is also a fascinating 'Insight' fact for each country revealing some of the more fun, interesting, and quirky details that make places so unique. The Pocket Genius series is perfect for all children, whether they are young readers beginning to discover facts about the world or budding geniuses keen to soak up even more information! Ideal for family reference, crosswords, and quizzes, this book presents an intriguing and absorbing journey around the world in which we live.