The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions - Neon Squid
Illustrated book cover titled "mind-blowing world of extraordinary competitions" featuring diverse animated characters engaging in various unique contests like watermelon eating and lumberjack challenges.
Format: Hardback
Age Range: 8-10
Book Size: 9" x 11"
ISBN: 9781684492862
Pages: 80
Publication Date: April 4, 2023
Price: US $17.99 / CAN $23.99

The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions

Meet the Incredible People Who Will Compete at ANYTHING

From cheese rolling races to baby crying competitions, get ready for an adventure through the most amazing contests the world has ever seen.

Throughout history humans have been challenging themselves against each other. Who could be the fastest? The strongest? The cleverest? While this was going on some other people decided to create epic contests that were… well, a little bit more unusual.

Welcome to the extraordinary world of competitions, introduced by podcaster and expert fact-finder Anna Goldfield! Inside this nonfiction book prepare to get your mind blown by:

• The people that take ironing boards up mountains
• A spectacular pumpkin rowing race
• Beauty pageants… for camels!

Through the stories of these awesome competitions readers will learn about the societies that created them, and the amazing traditions that inspired them.

Filled with fun facts, it’s a perfect book for fans of Guinness World Records!

Buy The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions from:

Look Inside

Illustration of a colorful dragon boat race with multiple teams rowing in sync, set against a vibrant, scenic background. accompanying text provides cultural context and history of the race.
Illustrated book spread titled
An illustrated spread from a children’s book showing two scenes: on the left, two men, one sipping coffee, playing chess in a cozy, colorful setting; on the right, two boxers in a boxing ring surrounded by cheering spectators.
Illustrated book spread about pumpkin regatta events, showing people racing in hollowed-out pumpkins on water, different types of pumpkin crafts, and historical trivia related to pumpkin regattas.
Illustration from a children's book showing two scenes of kids flying kites. on the left, a boy launches a kite from a city rooftop; on the right, kids enjoy flying kites in a sunny, grassy park.

Author & Illustrator

A person with short dark hair and round glasses smiles slightly, wearing a gray top. the background features abstract orange and teal shapes.
Anna Goldfield

Anna Goldfield is a podcaster, science writer, illustrator, archaeologist, and creator of all sorts of content to introduce people to the study of the world around us and its past. Anna works on the kids’ science podcast Brains On! and presents the popular archaeology podcast The Dirt.

A smiling young woman with short blonde hair wearing a light purple top with floral patterns against a graphic blue and yellow background.
Hannah Riordan

Hannah Riordan is an illustration graduate from Edinburgh College of Art from North London. She loves to experiment with color, pattern, hand lettering, and humor within her work, using a combination of traditional and digital processes.

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