# Fact Monster

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fact_Monster
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fact_Monster.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact_Monster
> Source revision: 1326146085
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Fact Monster** is an [educational technology](/source/Educational_technology) website geared towards children.[1] It is owned by [Infoplease](/source/Infoplease)[1] and, like the Infoplease site, it contains several reference works under one umbrella, including the [Columbia Encyclopedia](/source/Columbia_Encyclopedia), [Random House Dictionary](/source/Random_House_Dictionary), an atlas and an almanac. It also features quizzes, [flashcards](/source/Flashcards), a homework center and [Flash](/source/Adobe_Flash)-based games.[citation needed]

Fact Monster launched in 2000, initially as Infopleasekids.com.[1][2][3] In August 2000, [Pearson PLC](/source/Pearson_PLC) acquired [Family Education Network](/source/Family_Education_Network) (FEN) which included infoplease.com.[4] In May 2015, Pearson sold FEN to [Sandbox Partners](/source/Sandbox_Partners).[5]

The website contains facts on thousands of subjects, including sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health.[6]

## Reception

In March 2001, it won a [Webby Award](/source/Webby_Award) for best youth site.[7] In 2003, it was on the annual list of the Best Free Reference WebSites by the [Reference and User Services Association](/source/Reference_and_User_Services_Association_awards) (RUSA) of the [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) (ALA) to recognize outstanding reference sites on the World Wide Web.[8]

In 2001, [Lev Grossman](/source/Lev_Grossman) wrote a positive review in *[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))* ending with, "It's so cool that kids will forget it's educational."[9] In 2016, Michelle Breckon from [Kent State University](/source/Kent_State_University) Libraries wrote in [Reference Reviews](/source/Reference_Reviews) that the website is "visually appealing" and has a variety for "kids of all ages"; but its navigation can be difficult, lacks citations, and the simple games may be a distraction.[10]

## See also

- [Game Classroom](/source/Game_Classroom)
- [FunBrain](/source/FunBrain)

## References

1. ["About Us"](https://www.infoplease.com/about-us). *Infoplease*. Retrieved 2021-05-14.

1. ["Getting a jump on homework help"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-07-30-0107300014-story.html). *Chicago Tribune*. Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. admin (2006-12-14). ["MARSBestRef2003"](https://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/mars/marspubs/marsbestfreewebsites/marsbestref2003). *Reference & User Services Association (RUSA)*. Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. staff, eSchool News & Reports, Wire Service (2000-08-01). ["Pearson PLC acquires FamilyEducation Network"](https://www.eschoolnews.com/2000/08/01/pearson-plc-acquires-familyeducation-network/). *eSchool News*. Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. Rosen |, Judith. ["New Owner for Poptropica and FEN"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/66692-new-owner-for-poptropica-and-fen.html). *PublishersWeekly.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. ["Fact monster"](https://lccn.loc.gov/2003533055). *Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA*. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

1. ["The Webby Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130307220258/http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=5). *webbyawards.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=5#webby_entry_youth) on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2015.

1. (MARS), RUSA Machine-Assisted Reference Section (2003). ["Best Free Reference Web Sites: Fifth Annual List"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/20864105). *Reference & User Services Quarterly*. **43** (1): 52–58. [ISSN 1094-9054](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1094-9054). [JSTOR 20864105](https://www.jstor.org/stable/20864105)

1. Grossman, Lev (2001-09-10). ["In Brief: Sep. 10, 2001"](https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1000757,00.html). *Time*. [ISSN 0040-781X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0040-781X). Retrieved 2022-04-25.

1. Breckon, Michelle (2016-01-01). ["Fact Monster"](https://doi.org/10.1108/RR-01-2016-0021). *Reference Reviews*. **30** (4): 6–8. [doi:10.1108/RR-01-2016-0021](https://doi.org/10.1108/RR-01-2016-0021). [ISSN 0950-4125](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0950-4125)

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.factmonster.com)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fact Monster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact_Monster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact_Monster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.