#WeirdWednesday Follows Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, Says National Geographic Kids

WASHINGTON (Nov. 25, 2013)-On the heels of Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday National Geographic Kids is declaring Wednesday, Dec. 4, #WeirdWednesday and is asking people to post weird but true facts - about themselves and the world - on social media.

On Dec. 4, National Geographic Kids will crown Austin, Texas, as the inaugural Weird but True town of the year and kick off a weeklong series of events there, and also celebrate the results of a nationwide survey of what kids think is kooky, unique and wonderfully weird about their worlds and themselves.

We've been inspired by kids' love for National Geographic Kids' Weird But True' books and sections in the magazine and have decided to dedicate this holiday season to celebrating all that is weird and wonderful in the world, said Melina Bellows, chief creative officer of Books, Kids and Family, and publisher of National Geographic Books. And where better to kick it off than Austin, capital of all things weird?

People can vote for the 2014 Weird but True town at weirdbuttruetown.com.

In its survey, National Geographic Kids asked its readers to determine what is weird and wonderful about themselves and the world around them.

Key findings:

Weirdest law in the United States: It was once a crime to look gloomy in Pocatello, Idaho (38 percent). Runner-up: Owning confetti is not allowed in Mobile, Ala. (35 percent).

Weirdest name of a U.S. city or town: Pee Pee, Ohio (49 percent)

Coolest weird fact about first lady Michelle Obama: She has watched each episode of The Brady Bunch at least 50 times (29 percent). Runner-up: She's taken part in two Guinness World Records feats - one for the most jumping jacks and one for the largest online photo album of animals; she took a picture of first dog Bo (24 percent).

Coolest weird fact about you (some of our editors' favorites):

Bodily functions - I can lick my elbow; I can make my eyeballs shake; I can make my tongue into a clover; I can make my eyebrows dance to music.

Ketchup - I can chug ketchup; I eat ketchup on mac and cheese; I hate ketchup.

I have memorized 63 digits of pi.

I like to eat pig stomach; pickles with whipped cream; honey on peas; lima beans; ranch dressing on spaghetti.

What makes your parents weird but cool?

Dad can wiggle his ears; burps the alphabet; does '80s dances; roller skates; says yo all the time.

Mom runs 100-mile races; does weird dances; does judo; is crazy about bats; calls gangnam style gum gum style.

They sometimes forget rules they make up; always sing commercial jingles; say maybe but they really mean yes ; dress like superheroes.

Weirdest fact you love about your teacher:

Our teacher calls our parents owners and they collect us.

My English teacher made a plan for what would happen in a zombie apocalypse.

My science teacher loves bacon and has a sign that says If you don't like bacon, you're wrong.

My teacher puts Milk Duds in her coffee.

My teacher has sneezing contests with our math teacher, and he always wins.

Weirdest thing you have eaten:

Peanut and pickle sandwich; 1,000-year-old egg; alligator pirogue; boiled cow tongue; chocolate-covered grasshoppers; roasted worms.

Weirdest holiday tradition you love:

Acting like a turkey on Thanksgiving.

Baking 84 dozen cookies each Christmas.

Destroying gingerbread houses with a remote-control truck.

Eating 12 skinless grapes on New Year for good luck.

Finding the pickle in the Christmas tree.

Figuring our how an enormous Santa can fit down our chimney.

Leaving a shot of brandy for Rudolph so his nose stays red.

*About the survey: It was mailed on Nov. 7, 2013, and answered by 440 kids on the National Geographic Kids and Family team. The average age of the respondents was 11.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. National Geographic Kids magazine (10 issues per year) and Little Kids magazine (six issues per year) are photo-driven publications available on newsstands or by subscription in print and on tablets. The award-winning website kids.nationalgeographic.com excites kids about the planet through games, videos, contests, photos, quizzes and blogs about cultures, animals and destinations. National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with 60 titles each year, including the New York Times bestseller Kids Almanac. National Geographic Kids safely engages kids to learn through digital play in the virtual animal world of Animal Jam. National Geographic Kids apps bring the best of National Geographic Kids to smartphones and tablets.

LINK:	http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/25/weirdwednesday-follows-...
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