Book Description

This year-by-year account of the nations bloodiest conflict makes history come alive through eyewitness accounts, profiles of people famous and ordinary, period art, and point-of-view sidebars that highlight the differences between North and South. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's a really helpful book!
This awesome book gives you all the facts you need to know to do a research paper on the Civil War. I had to do a topic paper for a history class, and I chose Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. This book was the only thing I needed to get all the facts about the Emacipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and more. I recommend this book to anyone.

Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Civil War
My 11 year old daughter is a Civil War buff. She says this book is "cool" because it shows actual battle photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

With its up to the moment content and engaging style, this major reference book is an essential resource that helps children relate today's news to the events of the past. Focusing on the who, what, when, where, and how, DK's Children's Encyclopedia of American History is published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution to present a completely unique survey of the story of America. Featuring more than 1,000 stunning photographs, plus maps, charts, and profiles of famous Americans, this book has been painstakingly designed with a cutting edge visual style to pull in even the most reluctant readers.

A Main Selection of Children's BookoftheMonth Club ... Read more

Reviews (3)

From big news stories to struggles for peace
Beautiful photos compliment lively text to present a comprehensive guide and reference to the events and ideas which have shaped the US. From big news stories to struggles for peace over the decades, the Children's Encyclopedia Of American History packs in illustrations and complimentary text to make for a revealing, attractive reference for all ages.

Almost an Encyclopedia
If you are an environmentalist or a liberal of any strain, this book is for your kids. It is not, however, for mine. I was excited to read it because at first glance, it presents an attractive and manageable timeline of American history, complete with helpful appendices including all of the important documents that are no longer priorities in the schools. As Mr. King gets closer to current events his bias becomes more evident and more difficult to stomach. Listing all of the examples here would be impossible, but he neatly boils the Reagan era down to homelessness, the national debt and the failed War on Drugs. President George W. Bush is simply defined by the Florida recount, the "disappearing surplus," and withdrawal from Kyoto. (The War on Terror is mentioned in the "Terrorism" section and President Bush is criticized for creating additional Arab opposition by calling Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, "the Axis of Evil.") I had hoped for a fair and balanced look at American history, and this fell far short of my expectations.

History for all ages--cause for celebration!
This fantastic book on American History is called a Children's Encyclopedia, but it's really for all ages. Get it for your grandchildren and spend hours with them learning everything from obscure details to familiar events. There is so much intriguing information here, and so many new perspectives on established facts, that you will return to this book over and over to refresh your mind and encourage your imagination. You can read it cover to cover, or, as I do, dip into random pages. It is wonderful to be excited about history all over again. Required reading for every American man, woman, and child. ... Read more

Book Description

Introducing the Scholastic Children's Encyclopedia, an essential one-stop resource of general knowledge for every young researcher.With nearly 600 entries on more than 20 subjects ranging from Aircraft to the Korean War, the Respiratory System to Walt Whitman, this book is brimming with up-to-the-minute information on subjects kids really want to know.Conceived and written for our multicultural world, this new encyclopedia encourages kids to question, explore, and learn. ... Read more

Book Description

The e.encyclopedia science pulls out all the stops to tell-and show-readers everything about science. Packed with the very latest photographs, illustrations, and 3-D models, and enhanced by cutting-edge computer image manipulation, e.encyclopedia science is a comprehensive and authoritative reference work for children.

That's not all it is, though. The e.encyclopedia program takes the next step in modern reference publishing by partnering with Google, the Web's most trafficked search engine, to actively manage and update dedicated Web sites to take you directly to the most useful, safe, and age-appropriate information online. DK and Google-a match made in info-gathering heaven-set the benchmark for science and technology reference for the whole family. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Adds the benefits of the Internet to a traditional book!!!
This book is a comprehensive survey of history from the creation of the Earth to the begining of the Millenium.It is divided into 4 sections:Pre-History, Ancient World, Medieval World, and the Last 500 years. It is a very visual book, with lots of photographs and illustrations to complement the concise text...But what makes it an INCREDIBLE resource is that it is internet-linked. There are hundreds of websites listed in the book that expand on the information presented. The research team at Usborne books has come up with age-appropriate websites from extremely reputable universities, museums, and institutions throughout the world to complement what is in their encylopedia. Let me give a few examples. For Ancient History there is a link to the University of Pennsylvania where a person can print out his/her name in hierglyphics. For modern day, there is a fabulous site at the BBC where you can read about the rise of Hilter and take a quiz afterwards. There is another site where you can listen to famous speeches throughout the ages. IT IS SO INCREDIBLE. And the best part is you can access all the listed sites through Usborne's website. The publisher's site will keep the links up to date if addresses change. This is a terrific resource for any student. ... Read more

Book Description

An invaluable family reference book, information is thematically organized into four key sections and packed with facts, figures, and quotable statistics. You will find an amazing breadth of scientific information, including chemistry, physics, weather, space, and the living world. With over 1,000 full-color photographs, diagrams, charts, cutaway drawings, and detailed illustrations, DK's The Visual Encyclopedia of Science shows you what others only tell you. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent for all age
I wish I had this book when I was student. I am glad I found this one for my curious son. Visuals are excellent with great explainations.

Excellent
This is an excellent book. I wish I had this book when I was student. You MUST have this if you care about learning yourself or want to teach your kids (that's why I bought it) about science.

Compact and very useful!
The other day I was watching a show about the ocean and saw the most amazing thing. They were talking about "black smokers - strange chimneys that form on the ocean floor." Later, in a discussion with a friend, I needed some extra information and this book provided me with the specifics.

When it comes to looking up this type of information, search engines are useful to a point. However, I find having a book gives me more confidence that the information is really accurate and true. Although, I do have a real problem with evolution in these types of books. Apart from that, the information is wonderful.

There are very colorful pictures. The Maple leaves turning from green to orange is shown with an explanation as to why this occurs. There are so many pictures in this book and the type is very easy to see.

If you have children and they need a book to look up facts for their school projects, this is a nice, compact size children will feel comfortable using.

The only question you will have when this book arrives is: "What do I look up first?"

Highly Recommended ... Read more

Book Description

Fascinating stories and whimsical illustrations delight children as they discover the basics of the Catholic Church! Here are:

• The great people and events of the Bible

• The life and message of Jesus

• The history of the early Church

• The stories of the saints

• Fundamental Catholic beliefs and practices

• And more

This child-friendly resource is the ideal read-aloud text for preschool through second-grade. It’s one that "I-can-read-it-myself!" third- and fourth-graders will love.

The format is similar to a storybook, with information presented in a topical style, rather than alphabetically. Whether they’re listening or reading, youngsters will keep an eye out for "Icthus," the friendly fish who acts as their guide all through the book.

Parents, grandparents, and godparents: This is a perfect First Holy Communion, Christmas, or birthday gift. Librarians, catechists, classroom and homeschool teachers: This is the solid, Catholic — entertaining! — resource you’ve been looking for. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Imagine a snake that can change its body shape to "fly" up to 164 feetbetween trees in the rain forest. Learn why a river that contains rat-tailedmaggots and tubifex worms is in trouble. Find out how the male emperor penguinkeeps its eggs warm--balanced on top of his feet! No child needs to be told thatthe animal kingdom is truly extraordinary. But every child will want to discoverin greater detail, from A to Z, just how remarkable the critters of the worldreally are. Dorling Kindersley, masters of pictorial reference guides (Dorling Kindersley Children'sAtlas, DK ScienceEncyclopedia, DK NatureEncyclopedia), bring the animal world vividly to life with theirAnimal Encyclopedia. Arranged alphabetically, from aardvarks to zebras,this lavishly illustrated guide investigates over 2,000 animal species, usingcrisp, stunning photographs, artwork, and special features. Each entry includesa fact box that provides quick reference information, such as family name forthat group of animals, habitat, food, number of eggs or young, and size. A veryuseful scale shows a silhouette of the animal next to that of an average sizeadult human male, to give readers an idea of its size. The "Find Out More" boxdirects readers to other pages to read about a linked subject. A glossary and anindex are provided, as well as an "Animal Life" section, which explains howanimals behave and fit into their individual habitats. This wonderful resourcefor home projects or schoolwork will be an absolute favorite for every member ofthe family for years to come. (Ages 8 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A great deal on a gorgeous book!
Since Amazon cut their prices on their more expensive books, books like this one are now reasonably-priced. This book would be a perfect gift for a family with children, or anyone else, for that matter! If you put it on your coffee table, I guarantee everyone will pick it up and become immediately absorbed in it!

Dorling Kindersley does a GREAT job with all their books and this one is no exception. The first section is about Animal Life - habitats, migration, classifications, birth and growth, etc.

The bulk of the book is Animals from A to Z. You'll read about slugs and tapirs and puffins and lions and tigers and bears. The pictures are simply GORGEOUS. Your family will learn from this book without even realizing it.

At just under [price], this book is a great deal - order one for yourself and another for a gift!

(...)

Terrific, colorful reference book
I find that my four year old son and I reach for this book several times a week minimum. Whenever he has a question about animals (this morning's was "What do bugs eat?") we turn to this book and can always find an answer. I especially like that it has an excellent index, colorful pictures and each info page on an animal lists other related pages for further information. It packs an astonishing amount of information into one volume, all in a very accessible format. While it is not geared towards preschoolers it is easy for a parent to interpret for that age group and has lots of pictures for them to look at. Great resource for all those "why" questions.

great for babies too
My son is 14 months old and loves this book, the photos and drawings are fabulous. I'm looking forward to him discovering more and more in this book as he grows.

This IS the Great Big Book of Everything
I want to second a previous review that said this encyclopedia makes a good Great Big Book of Everything for fans of "Stanley". I designed a new cover for it, put a sticker of Stanley and Dennis on it, added letter tabs and my son couldn't be happier. It was the only thing he wanted for Christmas and he was not disappointed. The high point came when my siblings thought that it was nice that the "Stanley" people made this book. Lots of animals and great pictures. Sometimes my children and I pick out an animal and I use that as their bedtime story. 5 stars all the way.

Seemed great, until...
At first this book seemed excellent. I bought it because I wanted to use the illustrations and photos in my own book, which I am simply writing for fun. As you may have guessed my book is on animals. Anyway,the "Animal Encyclopedia" has a lot of great information and beautiful pictures. However, upon closer inspection I noticed that the book had many errors. In fact, after searching through the entire book, I came across an astounding 32 errors! These aren't minor errors either. An example is page 349, where they have a picture labeled: great egret, where the bird is obviously a SNOWY EGRET. There is a HUGE difference. So, why give it more than one star? Because besides these numerous errors the book does have a lot of good info. You simply can't rely on every fact to be correct, which sort of defeats the purpose of the book I guess. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Helicopters and hibernation, Nelson Mandela and Medieval Europe, the sunand the Supreme Court. Discover something about everything in the fully revisedDorling Kindersley Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia, featuring morethan 4,500 photos and illustrations (that's 1,000 more than the previousedition!), more than 500 alphabetical entries (including 100 new full-pageentries), and 2,000 additional subentries on a wide range of topics. Inaddition, education experts have revised the text to complement the curriculumfor 8- to 11-year-olds at Key Stage 2. Web site links, cross-references, digitalmaps, and up-to-the-minute coverage of world events ensure that children arewell equipped to face the 21st century. The text is lucid and packed withrelevant, scrupulously researched information. Special features include a "pathof discovery" method of cross-referencing, which includes "find out more" boxes,guiding readers to related topics and Web sites. Look up lasers and be pointedto gas, gems and jewelry, light, shops and shopping, and sound recording. Checkout Brazil and soon you'll be seeking information on festivals and feasts,forest wildlife, rivers, soccer, and South America. A 30-page "Fact Finder"reference section provides still more detailed information about a variety ofsubjects, including astronomy, global communications, plant and animalclassifications, and J. K. Rowling! This is a superb resource for school andhome, worthy of browsing any time. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

excellent, except questionable age range
I bought this with idea of giving it to a 5 year old. Upon arrival, it seemed much too advanced. You have 4 to 8 years. I checked the DK website and they indicated age 8+. The book is great and will go to an older child. This book is so well put together that an adult would benefit by having it for a reference.

Very Good but information not very accurate
Like the pictures and coverage but was not happy with the authenticity of the information.

In 5 pages found about 5 mistakes.

An education enthusiast!
So many questions were hard to answer when my 2 1/2 year old son started asking me (why do crickets make that noise? etc.) so, I bought this as a reference. Now, we read a section every night and he has so much knowledge from this book. It is very easy to read and has many detailed and colorful pictures (even boring subjects hold your interest!). My son, who is now 3 1/2 tells everyone how the noise is made by crickets rubbing their legs together. I've even learned a few things myself.

A MUST HAVE!
As a librarian I see lots of Encyclopedias. I was very impressed with this one in particular because it is full of color photos, and children always like pictures with their text. I ordered three copies for my library which have become so popular that I plan to order two more to keep up with the demand. My next goal is to try to get one into each of the seven classrooms in my school!

Oxford's children's encyclopedia has refreshing perspective.
It was with some trepidation that I opened The Oxford Children's Illustrated Encyclopaedia, being it is a product of acedemia. I need not have worried. It is refreshing and is crammed with facts; and without being jingoistic, it cheerfully assumes it is not a bad thing to view the world through Western eyes. That is, it speaks from a largely Western perspective.

Chinese history gets its due, for instance, but mainly as it intersects with European; the same goes for Africa.

It is also notable that the encyclopaedia explains herbalism, reflexology and aromatherapy in a one-page article on complementary medicine, for instance, but devotes pages and pages to standard science: bacteria, viruses, breathing, cells, the brain, the heart, immunity, pregnancy, birth and so on. The "wisdom of the rainforest" is absent. So is the group theory of scientific discovery, in favour of the accomplishments of such individuals as Archimedes, Marie Curie, James Watt and Albert Einstein.

Pollution and its effects are discussed, but without any technology-bashing. The entries on the steam engine, crane, battery and photocopier (bet you didn't know that the key to photocopying is magnetism) are more than clear; they impart to children that each is a triumph of the human mind.

Its accurate chronology and historical structure for example include Medieval England with exposition of king, law, parliament, God and the Black Death. Then there is the matter of religion. Its pages on Buddhism, Islam and Judaism provide excellent synopses, and the entries on Christianity are packed with information. Space was found for Methodism founder John Wesley, the Quakers' George Fox and many more.

In summary, it is accurate, factual but more important it presents things in perspective.

Nathan Greenfield [BCR] ... Read more

Book Description

The SCHOLASTIC ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANIMALS highlights a splendid variety of 140 animals, from alligators to zebras, and many in between! Most of the animals featured are common to kids¹ experience, whether found in their neighborhoods or at the zoo. With spectacular photographs of each animal and a discussion of physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats, this is a fascinating and useful reference for any child interested in the animal kingdom. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

FINE PHOTOS, GOOD DESCRIPTIONS
The efforts of Laurence Pringle and Norbert Wu combined effectively to unleash this fine book.
"Scholastic Encyclopedia of Animals" is one graphical zoo, which browsed through a wide variety of animals: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Sound descriptions and illustrations were very common here. Ecology, as well as the physical and the behavioural characters of each animal was discussed.
Not only will school-children appreciate the contents of this book, it will serve as vital educational and leisure introduction (to life-science) for them. Whereas toddlers may use it to identify some domestic animals which they have seen before, older pupils will use it to sooth their curiosities: which may serve as an early precursor for interest in the fields of Biology, Agriculture, and General Science.

My son's favorite book
My kindergarten son just loves this book. He bought it at school and for the past few months has carried it around with him almost as much as his favorite stuffed animal. It's written for middle-elementary aged kids but he can read well and has increased his reading skills in the process. The animals are all presented in alphabetical order, which is another feature that he loves. ... Read more

Book Description

The incredible diversity of life on Earth—from microscopic single-celled organisms to giant redwoods and blue whales—is studied in more than 1,000 stunning photographs and illustrations.

The introductory section, "A Planet Apart," guides the reader through the formation of the planet and the beginning of life, to evolution and animal and plant life today. The second section, "The Living World," introduces the kingdoms of life on the planet, from microscopic life, through plants to animals. The third and main section of the book, "Wildlife Habitats," takes a detailed look at the world"s habitats, with "species features" that focus on animals and plants that are of particular interest, such as the vampire squid and the bristlecone pine. ... Read more

Book Description

An inspiring new addition to the First Reference series, the DK First Animal Encyclopedia is loaded with spectacular photographs showing animal habits and habitats. From aardvark to zebra, this book is packed with fascinating facts about animals, giving children a wonderful head start on learning about the animal world. ... Read more

Book Description

DK continues its commitment to providing comprehensive reference books for young readers with the Encyclopedia of the Human Body. Perfect for use as a family guide to understanding how the body works and for supporting the science studies of school-age children, this volume is packed with bold illustrations and easy-to-follow text. The most challenging anatomical concepts, from how our skeletons support our body weight to the impact computer imaging is having on the fight against disease, are clearly presented for ease in understanding. Fascinating information on the history of medicine and its pioneers rounds out this must-have compendium. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC
I'm constantly amazed by the consistently excellent educational book front-list from British publisher Dorling Kindersley. No other mass-market publisher comes close to producing non-fiction books of such quality, scope, sophistication, visual excitement and sheer readability. When DK Publishing tackles a subject, it's done right, typically by a hand-picked team of editorial professionals and topic experts, as is the case with their latest desk reference book, "DK Encyclopedia of the Human Body." Here a team of medical experts provided the massive data contained in the tome's 300-plus pages. Then a team of authors and editors groomed the text into DK's characteristic style by outlining subject heads and breaking down information into easily-digested sub-sections, each with a corresponding image. There are more than 900 full-color photographs, illustrations, charts and diagrams here, all mesmerizingly revealing the workings of the human body in painstaking detail. Instead of listing subjects alphabetically in the standard style of most encyclopedias, here it is organized into related subject groupings, working parts, moving framework, control and sensation, supply and maintenance, and so on, and designed in concert with DK's uniquely eye-popping visuals. Timelines, charts and illustrated histories help put subjects into perspective and tidbits on leeches, motion sickness, head lice, and toilets will get the attention of even the most reluctant readers. Page after page, the detailed subject is presented clearly and concisely in such a riveting way that young students ages eight and up will not only find and comprehend the information they're seeking, but will become so absorbed that they'll surprisingly discover themselves reading for the sheer fun of it. For high school students, the encyclopedia is a particularly distinct and pleasurable alternative to dull textbooks, making this a must-have for every student's complete home library. ... Read more

Book Description

Come jaw-to-jaw with an amazing array of awe-inspiring prehistoric reptiles and other incredible creatures in this dramatic trek back in time to the dawn of life on our planet and the age of the dinosaurs.Spectacular, full-color illustrations, photographs, and realistic dinosaur reconstructions based on the latest scientific discoveries bring each creature to life. The text combines hard facts about dinosaurs with interesting and intriguing details about their lifestyle and behavior. Species spreads detail the members of specific dinosaur families, giving information about their habitats and behavior, sizes, and the locations of fossil finds, while special subject spreads focus on various aspects of dinosaur life.Packed with dramatic photographs and illustrations, this colorful volume is an indispensable reference for young dinosaur enthusiasts and a captivating resource for the whole family.Special Features:Comprehensive, chronological encyclopedia of dinosaurs through the ages.Timelines give a visual guide to prehistoric periods.Up-to-the-minute research focuses on the latest finds.Includes glossary and general index. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia
The Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia written by David Burnie and illustrated by John Sibbick is a wonderful text with plenty of well captured illustrations along with the text to captivate your imagination about what dinosaurs were like. This text vividly captures you as it attempts to recreate the lives of the different dinosaurs covered in this encyclopedia.

"The Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia" is arranged in a chronological order giving copious attention to dinosaur habits and habitats. Also, there is attention to detail about information on how fossil finds can be interpreted as the information is related to the time of the dinosaurs. The writing is easily understandable and children will wonder at the pictutres along with the prose.

I found this book to be up-to-date on a lot of information and is and outstanding guide to dinosaur life and times. There is some comparative anatomy, as the book goes into detail about the Maximum Length, Time, and Fossil finds as to location as to where these animals were found. This makes the book interesting as we see contrast to different types of dinosaurs as to location on the map. Also, the interrealtion of species to one another.

"The Kinfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia" is a book that can be used as a reference as well when comparing different dinosaurs to one another. The contents of this book is as follows:

Life in the Distant Past
The Age of Ancient Life
The Age of Reptiles
Plant-Eating Giants
Ornithopods
The Meat Eaters
Giant Meat Eaters
Armored Dinosaurs
Reptiles in the Air
Reptiles in the Sea
The Age of Mammals

There are subcatigories in each of these major chapters and there is adequate detail making for and interesting read. Dinosaurs are a significant part of prehistory. The more we discover about dinosaurs, the more we find out about the world we live in today.

This book rates a solid five stars for imaginative illustration and a text that is easily understood giving the reader a well-rounded view of life's past. You will not be disappointed with this book as it is unbelievably rewarding. ... Read more

Book Description

Your World is designed to help today's youngsters find the answers to their many questions, either by themselves, or with the help of a parent or educator.With its thematic arrangement, Your World is fun and intuitive to use. Information is presented in context, a vital aid to comprehension for this age group. Many join-in activities and simple experiments - such as making a miniature erupting volcano or creating an imitation aquarium - invite participation. From Prehistoric Life to People and Places, and from Transportation to The Universe, the book covers all the subjects that spark a child's curiosity.Simple captions, step-by-step illustrations, clear text, and an easy-to-read index make this a book for children to grow with, and one that will prepare them for the next level of reference and nonfiction books. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book to answer the "whys"
My preschooler has just begun the constant "whys", "hows", "whens" etc. This book has great pictures and text to explain why some things happen and how things work. While some of the text may go over his head right now, I think we will use this book into elementary school so we'll get our good out of it. There are also some simple activities to go along with some of the subjects to use for hands on learning. It covers just about every subject that a preschooler is going to encounter. So far it has been a great resource to have at our house. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superbly presented antiquarian history
Specifically and beautifully designed for young readers ages 9 and older, this Getty Publications edition of the Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Ancient Rome by archaeologist Mike Corbishley provides an informed and informative descriptive survey of ancient Romans and the antiquarian era of the Roman Empire. Featuring more than 200 informative entries showcasing everyday life in roman cities and countrysides (as well as specific subjects ranging from farming, trade, leisure, and religion, to language, technology, and war, the Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Ancient Rome is wonderfully illustrated throughout with 250 color and 50 b/w illustrations, and four maps. This superbly presented antiquarian history is a wonderful addition to any family, school, or community library collection. ... Read more