The Year You Were Born, 1983

The winning word in the National Spelling Bee held June 9, 1983? Purim. The favorite popcorn flavors of 1983? Pina colada, grape and strawberry. Trends and trivia as well as standard history furnish the entries in this almanac, ordered like a calendar to allow a reader to discover what distinguished the months and days of 1983. Kids born in 1983 will no doubt love this singular and inventive book; even though a few facts are unlikely to interest them--e.g., that the Screen Actors Guild reelected Ed Asner its president on November 11--Martinet has generally kept young readers in mind. Those born on March 24 will learn they share their birthday with the first American test-tube twins; February 27 marks the anniversary of J. R. Ingel's triumph at a chicken-hypnotizing contest in Oklahoma; other days commemorate the consumption of the world's largest ice-cream sundae or Key lime pie, etc. Lanfredi enhances the pages with numerous small cartoons and uses cheerful, seasonally inspired borders to designate each month's spreads. Volumes for 1984 and 1985 will be released simultaneously. Ages 7-up. (Oct.)