When I was ten I remember being given two thick paperbacks: the Johnson Smith Novelty Catalog (see review) and the 1952 World Almanac. I spent a long time leafing through each of them, but the World Almanac had more staying power. Now, as a librarian, I find it one of the most useful reference works available. The print is a bit small, and the maps are just so-so. Published each November, current through October. Use the detailed index in the front, or the one-page Quick Reference index in the back.