Weird But True! Know-It-All: U.S. Government

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

This guide to U.S. politics features surprising stories, hidden history, and clear explanations of how our government works—plus loads of weird but true facts!

Why is the president called the "commander-in-chief"? And did you know that during a filibuster senators can talk about whatever they want? They have read the phone book, a recipe for fried oysters, and even Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss!

In this next WBT Know-It-All, readers dive deep into the U.S. Capitol to uncover everything they need to know about our government—how things get done, who is who, and why things are the way they are.

After reading this book, kids will walk away with a wealth of practical knowledge about our government, including the roles of each branch and how things get done. From the Senate to the Supreme Court and everything in between, readers will learn if a vote in Washington, D.C., really “counts,” how the two-party system got started, how many representatives each state has and why, and more. They’ll also be wowed by a ton of weird but true information, like funny laws in some states—in one, it’s illegal to kill Bigfoot!—how members of Congress ride their own mini-subways under the Capitol, and the surprising secrets of the dollar bill!

Jam-packed with photos, illustrations, fun facts and info, the Weird But True Know-it-all series is the anything-but-boring way to boost your brain!

Series Overview: The Weird But True! series has been an instant hit since it burst onto the book scene in late 2009, selling more than seven million copies to date. Weird But True! Know-It-All books take the same classic branding and dive deeper to provide kids with a comprehensive overview of everything they need to know about a single subject, while packing in all the wacky, weird tidbits! Readers can complete their collection with:

Weird But True Know-It-All U.S. Presidents

Weird But True Know-It-All Greek Mythology

Weird But True Know-It-All Ancient Egypt

Weird But True Know-It-All Rocks and Minerals

Weird But True Know-It-All Middle Ages

About the Author

MICHAEL BURGAN is an award-winning children’s author with more than 25 years in the industry. His past books include Shadow Catcher, a Woodson Honor Book; Tank Man; Who Was Henry Ford?; and Who Was Theodore Roosevelt? He also wrote National Geographic Kids’ Weird But True Know-It-All: Rocks and Minerals and Weird But True Know-It-All: Middle Ages.

Author Residence: Santa Fe, New Mexico