Reference

By Staff -- School Library Journal, 6/1/2006

Books

Gr 8 Up–Incorporating and expanding on entries from such earlier works as his Facts On File Space and Astronomy Handbook (2002), Angelo presents a wide-angled survey that not only encompasses the nature, study, and exploration of outer space, but also delves into a huge array of related topics, from the Tomahawk missile and Columbia accident to climate change and quarks. Alphabetically arranged into more than 3000 articles that run from single sentences to several double-columned pages, this resource is both comprehensive and easy to use, and nearly every entry closes with several cross-references. The volume is enhanced by a detailed index and 15 thought pieces on such topics as the physical hazards of space travel, the possible consequences of “interstellar contact,” and the demonstrated uses of satellites in peace and war. Though neither the occasional, murky black-and-white photographs nor the appendixes, which are chock-full of useful and unusual information, are picked up in the index, and some entries are less than enlightening (“Enthalpy,” for instance, includes no actual definition of the term), this will be a valuable addition to any smaller collection serving serious students, whether they’re researching Galileo or the Galilean satellites, such recent trans-Plutonian discoveries as Sedna and Quaoar, or, for that matter, Walt Disney’s influence on the space race.–John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up–The volumes include a time line, an introduction, discussions of texts and tenets, branches, practice, rituals and holidays, and major figures, as well as a bibliography and a glossary. Judaism is clearly written, whether describing a holiday or parsing the branches of the faith. Confucianism and Taoism are defined as world religions, using sociological criteria. This challenging, but lucid exposition introduces readers to Chinese language and culture and describes the impact of Confucianism on Japanese and Korean societies as well. The annotated chapter bibliographies are worth the price of the volume. Christianity is poorly organized and lacks historical clarity. The writing is wooden and riddled with errors of expression, and confusion is rampant. There are also errors of fact or implication. Buddhism is refreshingly fluent and accessible, as well as authoritative. It is particularly helpful in explaining the more abstruse aspects of the religion, and in distinguishing Buddhist from Hindu goals. Clearly written, it enables readers to sort out the South Asian, Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan varieties of Buddhism. Islam is equally thorough and its chronology is helpful in following the political and sectarian developments in Islam over the centuries. Hinduism is as much a cultural history as an introduction to the religions of India. The author has a lot of complex theology to deal with and manages to convey its depth and variety without overwhelming readers. Unfortunately, the proofreading of this book was a bit lax. These volumes are more detailed but less lively than Peter Occhiogrosso’s The Joy of Sects (Doubleday, 1997) and Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions (Peter Smith, 1992), and the small black-and-white photos look outdated. A cumulative index is in each volume.–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George’s School, Newport, RI

Gr 9 Up–Thanks to clever typography, this revision of the 1994 edition eliminates virtually nothing, adding hundreds of new entries in the same 400 pages with no loss of legibility. Most additions are biographical; under A and B alone, for instance, there are more than 40 such, including Mary Astell, Ghose Aurobindo, Charles Babbage, Abraham Bar Hayya, and Jorge Luis Borgès. More Chinese (ch’eng, yi, zhi, feng shui) and Sanscrit (samadhi, ahamkara) join Latin and German terms, and occasionally a new word (education, wisdom, toxin puzzle, ecofeminism) appears. The time line is also new. This edition will double as a world-religions reference, but its original material is, reassuringly, little changed.–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George’s School, Newport, RI

Gr 10 Up–This book opens with a six-page overview of American accomplishments in various fields of science, followed by alphabetical entries on the scientists. Each of the nearly 300 articles begins with the individual’s name, important dates, and specialty, and an introductory paragraph highlighting the significance of the work. Personal information (marriages, children, education, etc.) and career details are also noted. Further-reading suggestions are offered for each entry and include print and online sources. There is an alphabetical list of entries and another by discipline; the index is extensive. Average-quality, black-and-white photographs appear throughout. This volume will work for students looking for quick facts or as a starting point for research papers.–John Palmer, Bryan & College Station Library System, Bryan, TX

Gr 10 Up–Covering Japanese history, culture, and society between 1185 and 1868 C.E., this resource highlights the complexity of this society by describing the “social and economic hierarchies, the power struggles, the cultural innovations and the religious worldviews” of that period. It consists of well-written narratives, thematically organized into 12 categories beginning with “Historical Context.” “Warriors and Warfare,” “Everyday Life,” “Religion,” “Travel and Communication,” and “Performing Arts” are some of the other topics covered. The book is most suitable for students with some knowledge of this nation’s history and culture. Features include capsule biographies; black-and-white maps, charts, and photos; line drawings from the period; and a 19-page bibliography. Given the thematic organization of the book, students will need to use the extensive index to access specific information. This title will serve both reference and circulating collections.–Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego

Gr 9 Up–More than 400 entries describe major events, institutions, and individuals involved in the evolution of modern business since the American Revolution. Each entry is written in a lively, informative style and is followed by a short bibliography. Cross- and “see also” referencing allow thorough utilization of this encyclopedia. Up-to-date topics include Enron Corporation and Oprah Winfrey and are comprehensive enough to include farming. Enticing biographical sketches portray individuals who were/are self-educated, college graduates, lucky, but, most importantly, assiduous workers. Complex economic and financial processes are thoroughly explained, thus rendering this set useful for beginning business students. The volumes include average-quality, black-and-white photographs, occasional maps, a chronology, and 15 primary documents that trace business highlights from the Hudson’s Bay Company Charter, 1670, to United States v. Microsoft, 2000. It should be noted that John Adams, not Theodore Roosevelt, was president during the passage of the Sedition Act of 1798.–Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 9 Up–This chronological overview of rock music history is divided into six volumes: The Early Years, 1951-1959; Folk, Pop, Mods, and Rockers, 1960-1966; The Rise of Album Rock, 1967-1973; From Arenas to the Underground, 1974-1980; The Video Generation, 1981-1990; and The Grunge and Post-Grunge Years, 1991-2005. Each book’s preface, introduction, and time line explain the scope of the text and set the stage for the thematic chapters that follow. The encyclopedic “A-Z of Rock” at the end of each volume contains brief biographical entries, information on record companies, and definitions of musical styles. Appendixes of the top-selling and most significant records of the period are included. Each title concludes with an extensive “Reference Guide” that lists related books, articles, Web sites, organizations, museums, events, films, and recordings, followed by a detailed index. Scattered throughout the texts are black-and-white portraits and shaded text boxes with information on influential musicians, musical styles, and more. In addition to being excellent reference tools, these volumes are so readable that libraries will want to consider circulating them. An outstanding set.–Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA

Gr 6 Up–This revision of the 2002 edition provides more than 450 quality reproducible maps covering eras and events from “The Extent of the Last Ice Age” and the earliest human settlements through “The Pacific Region Today.” The maps are housed in loose-leaf binders and chronologically arranged under nine thematic and regional divisions. They cover migrations, exploration, civilizations and empires, historic boundaries, trade routes, transportation, distribution of ethnic and economic groups, demographics, battles, and wars. New to this edition are “Disposition of Coalition Forces during the Iraq War” (as of late April, 2003), civil wars and new nations in Africa, the composition of the European Union, and information about the 9/11 attacks. About one third of the black-and-white maps cover aspects of American history and culture with information about Native peoples, the Westward Expansion, battles, numerous indicators of economic growth, and the results of presidential elections through 2004. Each volume contains a detailed table of contents and there is an extensive set index. The clear, easy-to-read maps are printed on heavyweight paper. This resource will be a boon to students looking for graphic materials for projects and reports. Teachers will appreciate it as a supplement to textbook studies. Accurate, up-to-date, and useful.–Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 10 Up–This massive work contains more than 500 alphabetically arranged, signed articles covering 1400 years of British literature. While many entries examine fiction and nonfiction writers from the seventh century to the present, related articles describe themes, institutions, movements, literary terms, genres, and an occasional literary work or poem (Beowulf, Piers Plowman, etc.). The editors have used the term “British” to denote authors from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Most of the entries, which run four to eight pages, have subheadings unique to the subject (“Marriage and the Body” under Jane Austen, “The Hypochondriack” under James Boswell, etc.). Many are followed by a list of works, editions, and annotated further-reading suggestions. Examples of the topical articles offered are “Abbey Theatre,” “Arthurian Literature,” “Black British Literature,” “Book Illustration,” “Bluestockings,” “Chapbooks,” “Mystery Plays,” and “Utopianism.” Interestingly, an entry on the Beatles is included, noting “the porous and contested” line between “literature and music, between poetry and pop songs.” A limited number of small, average-quality black-and-white photos and reproductions illustrate the text. The book opens with a chronology and list of topical entries and closes with a comprehensive index. A vast and valuable resource.–Pat Bender, The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA

Gr 9 Up–Dependable information, clear and concise writing, and well-chosen illustrations make this a useful resource. The volume offers easy access to a broad range of topics, including, gods and heroes; important scholars (Joseph Campbell, James Frazer); texts (I Ching, Bhagavadgita); themes (floods, Immaculate Conception); and complete overviews of world mythology. Readers searching for information on the “Green Man” will find links not only to the Green Knight and Adonis, but also to Dumuzi, a Sumerian fertility hero. The volume is peppered with mostly black-and-white, evocative illustrations and there is a lovely eight-page centerfold of color illustrations. Also included are pantheonic family trees and charts of equivalent deities. Attempting to cover so much territory, the editors have left a few things out. There is no entry for Midas, though the index refers readers to an article on Irish mythology that mentions the famous king. Despite a quibble or two, this is a grand book.–Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 9 Up–This resource offers alphabetically arranged biographies of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Most of the entries are about four pages in length, but others, for famous delegates such as Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Dickinson, and James Madison, are longer. The subjects’ early lives and careers are described, but the focus is on the political positions that each delegate held on a number of issues, including the tensions between Southern and Northern states on slavery, trade policies, navigation laws, the divisions between large and small states, and the differences between those favoring states’ rights versus those for a strong national government. This well-documented book will help students understand how these individuals were influenced by the questions of the day and gain knowledge of the early history of the U.S. The appendixes contain the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States.–Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH

Gr 10 Up–Though it covers a broad range of topics, this textbook-style survey suffers from arid, passive-voice prose and inadequate indexing–a bad combination for a general reference resource. An opening pair of chapters covering the early history of physics is followed by 13 others, each taking up a single class of phenomena, from “Translational Motion” and “Heat” to “Quantum Physics” and “Relativity.” Myers closes with instructions for two dozen simple experiments and a brief look at careers in the physical sciences. He keeps the focus steadily on classical physics; students researching such cutting-edge topics as superstring theory, superconductivity, or quantum entanglement will find little or nothing here, and even subjects that are discussed in some detail–quark flavors and colors, for example–are not picked up in the skimpy index. In addition, several entries in the multimedia resource list are more than 20 years old. The text is supplemented by frequent equations, charts, and diagrams, plus the occasional drab black-and-white graphic. Libraries already owning an upper-level science encyclopedia, either online or in multiple volumes, will only find this useful as, at best, a supplementary resource.–John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 10 Up–This well-organized volume concentrates on Italy’s impact on the Renaissance in both northern and southern Europe 1400- c.1600, covering the major movements in government, religion, art and architecture, literature, music, science, education, warfare, commerce, exploration, and daily life. The introduction provides an excellent overview of the origins of the Renaissance and the political landscape of Europe at the time. Numerous subheadings within chapters facilitate access to information. For example, the chapter on “Visual Arts” covers painting, tapestries, sculpture, prints, and decorative art, with each topic further subdivided. Most chapters end with a list of major figures and a chronology; all contain a list of recommended additional resources. Line maps and average quality, black-and-white reproductions and photographs enhance the content, and the volume concludes with a detailed index. This is an excellent introduction to the Renaissance, and will be especially useful to students researching a particular aspect of the period.–Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH

Gr 9 Up–Events offers two- to three-page essays that detail the major milestones of the century as well as social developments that were reflective of daily life during the period. The perspective here is international and spans a variety of categories, including religion and theology, cultural and intellectual history, expansion and land acquisition, and natural disasters. A list of key figures involved in each event is provided. Lives is a collection of biographical essays, ranging from three to five pages in length and documenting the lives of those individuals who helped to shape the history of the 17th century. The coverage is also global and includes both well-known and lesser-known figures. Subtitles are used effectively (“Early Life,” “Life’s Work,” “Significance”), facilitating information retrieval. In both sets, maps, tables, sidebars, annotated lists of further reading, and black-and-white illustrations support the texts. Several indexes (category, geographical, personages, subject) provide a variety of access points. These top-notch resources provide a wealth of information in an accessible format.–Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

Gr 6-9–Ambitious in scope, this set effectively condenses human history from 3000-2500 B.C. to A.D. 2005. Volumes 1-5 cover the time from prehistory to A.D. 1500, while 6-10 examine the period from the beginning of the “modern era,” c.1500 B.C., through contemporary times. Within each volume, illustrated time lines alternate with topical spreads (“Egypt’s Old Kingdom,” “Spanish Rule in America,” “The Transportation Revolution,” etc.), offering further details on an event, era, or phenomenon contemporary with the preceding chronology. The topical spreads also provide images and colorful, often detailed maps with extended captions. For example, “France’s Sun King” notes the dates of significant events during the reign of Louis the XIV and includes a sidebar on and color photo of the palace of Versailles, a map of France during the period, and more. Each book begins with a table of contents and ends with a glossary of 230-plus terms and a set index. The layout, the use of color coding on the time lines to distinguish different regions of the world, and varied typefaces aid in accessibility. However, the colors used for the “Americas” and “South & Central Asia” are not easily distinguished. Some of the icons labeling the events and advances may be open to dispute or ambiguous, depending on the user’s viewpoint. This set is an easy-to-use, authoritative source.–Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC

Gr 5-10–A sentence-by-sentence, article-by-article interpretation of the Constitution. The first half of the book is arranged to show the original wording of the document in one column, with a translation in simple language on the right. For example, part of Article I Section 9 explaining the “Writ of Habeas Corpus,” is explained, “People who are arrested and put in jail have the right to make the government tell them why they were put in jail.” Articles that were later amended or repealed are noted as such. The second half of the book describes how the Constitution has evolved, defines the branches of government, gives details about each amendment, and includes a glossary. This edition updates information about proposed amendments. Boxed fast facts and pen-and-ink drawings and spot art break up the text. No other book in the 320s gives an as easy-to-understand discussion of each sentence as this important document. Libraries may want to consider purchasing circulating copies as well.–Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA

Gr 9 Up–The Dictionary and Thesaurus is a valuable, easy-to-use update with 75,000 definitions, including 2000 new words such as “webcast” and “digital camera.” The dictionary provides meaning, spelling, pronunciation, synonyms, and etymology as well as temporal, regional, and stylistic usage. Words are presented in two columns with spot black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout. Entries indicate slang, dialect, and offensive or disparaging usage and include cross-referencing. Definitions are clear and concise. The volume also includes sections devoted to common foreign words and phrases, people, and places. The biographical entries are generally one line and occasionally sacrifice import to brevity. The geographical listings include latest population figures. Segments on English grammar and word roots will be particularly helpful to second-language learners and students preparing for the SAT, as will the listings of confused and misused words. Finally, a 48-page full-color world atlas divides the dictionary from the alphabetical thesaurus of 30,000 entries. This section, which includes synonyms, related words, near antonyms, and antonyms, should satisfy students and writers. The stand-alone Dictionary is an identical work, minus the atlas and thesaurus. Some readers may prefer the convenience of The American Heritage Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus (Houghton, 2005), which has a split-page format–the upper half a dictionary, the bottom, a thesaurus. Still, with only 70,000 entries, it lacks many of the extras contained in Webster’s update and has smaller print.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 3-8–This serviceable dictionary contains more than 32,000 words and phrases. It is surprisingly lightweight, and the large print, concise definitions, and pronunciation key in the right-hand corner of each spread make it easy to use. While the scattered illustrations are in black and white, the initial letters, guide words, and captions, as well as the occasional highlighted anecdotal word histories and synonyms, appear in purple, brightening the pages. Multiple definitions of a word are presented in historical order. Thus, the first meaning listed reflects earlier, possibly out-of-date usage. For example, the first definition for the word “nice” is “very fussy,” followed by “able to recognize small differences between things.” Children will have to read the third and fourth meanings to find the more commonly intended “pleasing” or “well-behaved.” A list of common abbreviations including states, months, days of the week, and words follows the word entries. The signs and symbols section includes many mathematical representations. Next is a grammar and punctuation guide; a biographical section listing years of birth and death and a succinct summary including nationality and profession; a list of U.S. presidents and vice presidents with life dates, birthplaces, and term dates; place names and capitals; important events in U.S. history from first settlement in 1565 to the Columbia disaster in 2003; a table of weights and measures; planet information; and a math refresher, which includes fractions, decimals, percentiles, area formulas, and examples.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools