Reference Review

Gr 5–8—Sixteen colorful maps depict the world from A.D. 500 to 1500. A chronology appears in the right margin of the first map. Specific time lines for India, China, Japan and Korea, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Vikings, Europe, African kingdoms, and North and Central America help students integrate the major historical events of the period. Topics include cathedrals and monasteries, Islamic culture, knights and castles, and the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán. General information is written in large type with details and captions in progressively smaller type. Picture icons identify cities, palaces, religious buildings, and people such as merchants, farmers, and soldiers, and there are several inset photos of artifacts and sites as well as large cutaway drawings of Chartres cathedral and The Dome of the Rock. Neil Morris's The Atlas of the Medieval World (Peter Bedrick, 1999) is similar in scope.—Ann Joslin, Fort LeBoef School District, Waterford, PA

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive reference source is based on other publications by Axelrod, including America's Wars (Wiley, 2002; o.p.); American Treaties and Alliances (CQ, 2000); Chronicle of the Indian Wars: From Colonial Times to Wounded Knee (Alpha, 1990); My Brother's Face: Portraits of the Civil War (Chronicle, 1993); and The Macmillan Dictionary of Military Biography (1997). It focuses on the legislation, social conditions, and policies that affected the major wars and smaller rebellions and insurrections, beginning with the American Revolution and ending with the War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The book opens with an extensive table of contents, chronological listings of important historical documents and of the 71 biographical entries, and an author's preface. Chronological chapters discuss each war and include background information, a summary of what happened over the course of the conflict, a timetable of events, important documents, and biographies of notable people. The inclusion of political and public opinions, propaganda, media coverage, foreign relations, diplomacy, treaties and alliances, and the consequences of each conflict gives readers multiple ways to evaluate the history presented. A bibliography concludes each chapter, and an extensive index completes the volume. Conflicts can be researched individually, or the work could be used as a textbook by advanced high school students.—Ann Joslin, Fort LeBoef School District, Waterford, PA

Gr 9 Up—The central theme of this overview is that "Americans participate simultaneously in many forms of folklife at the national and local levels." The editor provides two definitions of folklife-the social: "tradition-centered communities, locations, or groups" and the cultural: "the skills, symbols, identities, and customs that characterize such groups." The set's more than 350 alphabetically arranged entries defy easy classification, but include surveys of the unique cultures and traditions of urban areas, geographic regions, and a wide variety of ethnic groups; topics are as widely diverse as the Amish, Wiccans, bluegrass music, and punk. Other entries cover methods of self-expression such as music, art, crafts, and hobbies; holiday traditions; religious beliefs and traditions; and topics such as quilting and oral folk history. Average-quality photos add little to the text. The entries are well written and objective, but reading levels are quite high. Each article has good cross-referencing and a bibliography, and the final volume boasts a 78-page general bibliography. All volumes contain general, cultural-group, and geographical indexes for the entire set. This encyclopedia captures much of what is unique, diverse, and occasionally quirky about American culture. It provides a wealth of information that is not easily found in other sources.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 7 Up—These useful reference tools are ideal resources for visual learners and for test prep. Chemistry is arranged into eight sections: "Atomic Structure," "Elements and Compounds," "Changes in Matter," "Patterns-Non-Metals," "Patterns-Metals," "Chemical Reactions," "Chemistry of Carbon," and "Radioactivity." Physics includes "Forces and Energy"; "Waves, Sound, and Light"; "Electricity"; "Electronics"; and "Units and Measurements." The busy one-page entries feature full-color diagrams, graphs, charts, and maps on every spread, with the text, including a list of keywords to be found in the glossary, appearing in the margins. The illustrations and related information are labeled with corresponding numbers for easy matching. For example, in "Color Mixing," diagram 1 shows the primary colors, and the first section of text is labeled "1: Primary Colors." There is no cross-referencing between entries, but both sets include an extensive index. The books are written in easy-to-understand language, appropriate for students. Supplemental purchases.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 8 Up—This revision of the sixth edition adds material but not pages. The chronology, awards lists, and entries include works published through 2005, but entries from the previous edition have not been revised; the last case of Internet censorship cited is from 1999. Of the 16 two-page essays on various genres, only 2 have been given slight alterations ("Children's Literature" has lost its condescending conclusion). This edition contains more information on female and ethnically diverse writers. There are some omissions; for example, Alan Furst is left out of the "Spy Fiction" essay, and Martin McDonagh (The Beauty Queen of Leenane) earns only one sentence, in "Irish playwrights, new." "Gay and lesbian literature," which is no longer a separate essay, fails to mention several significant works, though they are treated elsewhere. Altogether absent from the book are authors such as W. G. Sebald, David Mitchell, and Ismail Kadare. Some choices are puzzling: Denise Levertov has twice Richard Wilbur's space; readers are told how to pronounce "Carew," but not "Bewick" (or Coetzee, Milosz, etc.). Flashes of wit-on "horror": "for every King there are a dozen or more knaves"-and verve ("Lads' literature"), leaven the learning. This is still the title to heft if you need elegant plot summaries, or help with anaphora, isocolon, and their ilk. However, for most purposes the previous edition still suffices.—Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Gr 9 Up—This valuable set provides practical essays ("Communicating with People Who Have Disabilities," "Financial Management for Women") and current, annotated directories of organizations, films, publications, and other resources. Two essays in Disabilities address professionals, discussing how to make budget-challenged libraries accessible and class environments more suitable for students with disabilities. Directories provide lists of educational assistance and funding opportunities for those with temporary or permanent conditions; sources for assistive technologies; resources for caregivers; and a short section on camps. Essays in Women and Minorities cover topics such as equal education, role models, starting your own business, affirmative action, and workplace diversity. The bulk of each book is a listing of financial-aid sources, professional organizations, colleges, and other programs such as urban leagues and labor alliances. Apprenticeship Programs details the history of apprenticeship, how to apply for one, and workplace etiquette. The lengthiest section consists of chapters on specific fields, describing the nature of the work, salaries, and job outlook. The "Apprenticeships by Eligibility" section contains chapters on Job Corps; Goodwill Industries; and special programs for veterans, the disabled, and others. Directories list job centers, state liaisons, and other job coordinators. Essays in Internships explain how to pick a position, write a résumé and cover letter, find a mentor, ace an interview, work abroad, and more. Listings are arranged by interest areas. Suitable for public, school, or vocational libraries.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 9 Up—The organization of these volumes includes a common introduction followed by five chapters of fundamental explanations on its subject branch. Executive presents a historical overview and a discussion of the roles, functions, and powers of governors and the role of the executive branch in state politics. Judicial includes an introduction to state courts and law; the roles, functions, and powers of state courts; and the structure and process of courts. Legislative includes chapters elucidating the powers and responsibilities of the legislatures and the structure and process of lawmaking. The final chapter in each book provides a state-by-state look at the topic, delineating what makes each state unique, making comparative studies easy. Each volume also contains information about people and politics, a volume-specific glossary, and a thematic annotated bibliography. Interesting sidebars (Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the "Coroner's Inquest," "Diversity in the Legislature," and other topics), average-quality black-and-white photographs, and tables are scattered throughout. Readers should be aware of a couple of errors. They include: Theodore Roosevelt is falsely credited with proclaiming Yellowstone National Park the first national park in Executive and a photo in Legislative is mislabeled the Old Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield. Despite these problems, these volumes embody a tremendous quantity of information for reports, thus filling a niche in government reference.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 10 Up—The 800-plus entries in this well-rounded volume cover the period from 1792 to 1815 and describe Napoleon's and France's lasting impact on the world. They range from expected topics like "Infantry"; "Madrid Uprising"; "Nelson, Horatio, First Viscount"; and "Quadruple Alliance" to material on authors, artists, composers, places, "Education (French)," "Luddites," "Neoclassicism," and "Slave Trade." The books include black-and-white maps and illustrations, glossaries of military and naval terms, 10 essays that summarize the entire period, and 18 primary-source documents. The set is well organized and easy to use; tables of contents and indexes appear in each volume, and each signed entry includes extensive see-also references and suggestions for further reading. A 44-page bibliography, unfortunately not divided by topic, completes the set. A number of dates in the chronology contradict those in the main text. For example, the chronology states that the siege of Pamplona began on June 30, 1813, whereas the entry says it began on June 25th of the same year. Still, this will be a valuable addition to the European history collections in large public libraries. Stephen Pope's one-volume Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars (Facts On File, 2000) is a passable alternative, though it lacks a bibliography.—Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 9 Up—More than a simple discussion of the phenomena of the title, this compact but detailed work describes, clearly and accurately, many of the forces that create the Earth's surface features. This edition has approximately 1500 entries, including 200 new ones that provide expanded historical and geographic coverage, events up to 2006, and more on tsunamis. It opens with a necessarily complex, but excellent, essay on the science of plate tectonics, the foundation of modern geology. Next are alphabetical, cross-referenced entries of place names (with information on activity in all U.S. states, as well as expected entries on places like Vesuvius); scientific terms; notable events, such as "Banda Aceh: earthquake and tsunamis" (unfortunately not listed under "tsunami" in either the main encyclopedia or the index); and other short essays ("aviation and volcanoes"). The work benefits from details that are often omitted as too obvious; for example, it explains why the land under the oceans is lower that the rest (it is lighter and more susceptible to gravity). Entries are enhanced by numerous clear, black-and-white maps, diagrams, photographs, and tables. Appendixes include a chronology of earthquakes and volcanoes, with approximate death tolls; eyewitness accounts of major disasters, even describing Vesuvius in A.D. 79; and tables comparing the strengths of various eruptions and quakes. There are no other similar works. Textbooks covering the same information are too dense for this audience; other relevant works are too juvenile.—Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—This compilation of excerpts from speeches, letters, interviews, protocols, and news conferences covers the time from "The End of World War II and the Descent of the Iron Curtain" to "Russia and the World in the Post-Cold War Era." The 14 chapters examine topics such as the Marshall Plan, McCarthyism, the Vietnam War, proxy wars in Central and South America as well as détente, Reagan and Gorbachev, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some students might find the treaty excerpts a challenge to read, but they will probably be enthralled by personal accounts such as the one by a commander of the Berlin Airlift. A major contribution is the inclusion of primary sources from opposing sides that analyze their perceived enemy's Cold War foreign policy. This comparison of viewpoints should greatly expand readers' understanding of the complexity of world issues and how they can be affected by ideology. The balanced selections reveal historical misjudgments as well as wise decisions. There is no final chapter on the United States to match "Russia and the World in the Post-Cold War Era," but this is a minor concern. An excellent addition.—Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign

Gr 9 Up—Examining selected works of 339 U.S. and Canadian writers, from Anne Bradstreet and Benjamin Franklin to Edward Bloor and Octavia E. Butler, this clearly written resource provides sturdy support for assignments, and will also be popular with discussion groups and with general readers of literature. The entries, arranged in a single alphabet, open with small black-and-white portraits, one-sentence context notes (Richard Brautigan "…is the principal transitional figure between the Beat writers and the youth culture of the 1960's"), and biographical overviews; proceed to analyze characters, events, and themes in 1 to 10 published works; then close with up-to-date bibliographies and brief lists of critical studies and of open-ended discussion topics. Among the novelists, poets, and playwrights are a small number of authors for young adults, including Gary Soto, Mel Glenn, and Cynthia Kadohata. Volume six includes several indexes, one of which groups the writers into one or more of 14 categories (e.g., "Poets," "African American/African Descent," "Jewish," "Gay or Bisexual"). Thoroughly revised and adding 73 writers to the 266 in the first edition (Marshall Cavendish, 1991), this work offers a level of detail that complements such wider-ranging but shorter-entry titles as Jay Parini's The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature (2003) and Carol Berkins's Encyclopedia of American Literature (Facts On File, 2002).—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 8 Up—MacDonald refines his authoritative, cladistically arranged 2001 resource (Facts On File) to incorporate both current thinking about evolutionary relationships among mammals and the results of recent research into mammalian traits and genetics. Volume one opens with several overview essays ("What Is a Mammal?"), then covers monotremes, marsupials, and insect eaters; elephants and relatives; rodents; and lagomorphs. The second volume deals with primates, tree shrews, and colugos; shrews, moles, and hedgehogs; bats; pangolins; and carnivores. The third volume continues the coverage of carnivores, followed by sections on hoofed mammals and whales and dolphins. It also includes lists (in challengingly tiny type) of every species not described earlier and a set index. Each chapter is prefaced by general observations and includes occasional essays on intriguing discoveries ("Sex Ratio Manipulation in Red Deer," "Lemur Dialects"). The profiles are much enhanced by the title's most enticing feature: a huge array of big, sharp color photos of individual animals and groups and breathtaking shots of nature in action and graphics, including species distribution maps and drawings of animals. Though humans get barely a mention and the lively text is laid out in such dense blocks that less-motivated readers may quickly feel bogged down, the set provides an unusually inviting bridge to high-level research. Not an essential replacement for collections that already include the earlier edition, but a significant addition for those that don't.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 4 Up—This lavish, ambitious volume contains full-color illustrations of more than 1500 species. Each brief entry includes common and scientific names and mention of an interesting physical or behavioral trait. Range maps show where each animal is found, and conservation data notes which species are extinct, endangered, or vulnerable. In addition to the realistic drawings, there are dramatic photos of animals in their habitats, such as one of a distraught Arctic seal pup caught in a discarded fishing net as its mother looks on. Introductory pages discuss the animal kingdom and classification as well as behavior, senses, communication, habitats, and endangerment. Readers may be alarmed to learn that "Even the great mass extinction 65 million years ago…did not destroy as many species as are dying out now." Subsequent chapters are devoted to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Chapters begin with discussions of commonalities and differences as well as the reproduction and behavior of each group. Boxed fast facts, diagrams, and visuals of life cycles offer additional information. The small print and the more challenging vocabulary make this update more suitable for older readers than the 2000 edition, which contained fewer species but offered more information about each one. While most species are listed by name in the index, popular creatures such as the lion, tiger, and cheetah appear under "cats" with no "see" references. Nonetheless, animal enthusiasts will go wild for this fascinating, colorful edition, most suitable for browsing.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 9 Up—Most of the content here comes from Gale's "Contemporary Authors" series. The set's organization, clarity, and information are commendable and make it easy to glean data on and critical assessments of unfamiliar writers. However, any book that lists Truman Capote, Alan Paton, and Katherine Anne Porter (all of whom died in the 1980s) as 21st-century writers begs the question: What about Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway? And then there are the glaring absences: playwright John Guare and poets Frank Bidart and Jane Kenyon are all missing from this compendium of the incongruous. Despite these oddly chimerical standards, this collection of approximately 700 alphabetically arranged entries covers writers of all genres, styles, and levels of literary qualification. Each entry is organized into a one- to three-page list of personal data, awards and honors, annotated list of works published, adaptations, and biographical information, and concludes with a (sometimes lengthy) bibliography of biographical and critical sources. Applying the genre and nationality indexes, this set could also serve as a reader's advisory tool. If you are looking for a print reference set on contemporary authors, this is an acceptable choice, but Gale's Literary Resource Center or EBSCO's Literary Reference Center will do the same job.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 5–9—This attractive and informative set provides well-written, well-researched introductory information about African geography and culture. Each of the first five volumes covers a region within the continent (Central, East, North, Southern, and West Africa) and opens with introductory information on that area's physical features, biomes, religions, languages, and cultures, and includes an extensive time line. It is followed by color-coded, alphabetically arranged entries examining the region's tribal and ethnic groups; art, sculpture, and textiles; performing arts and literature; and religion and individual cultures in further detail. The entries are supplemented with maps, time lines, "Fact File" sidebars, and high-quality photos and illustrations on almost every spread. The final volume is devoted to single-page geographic and economic profiles of Africa's nations, paragraph-length descriptions of international organizations that operate in Africa, and prominent personalities, including Africans and foreigners who live or lived on the continent. While mention is made of the ecological, public-health, and economic problems faced by much of Africa, the overall focus of the set is positive. Each book contains a volume-specific index and bibliography of books and Web sites as well as a list of general titles about Africa. Entries are cross-referenced, and there is an extensive cumulative index. This quality set will give report writers a solid introduction to the diversity of Africa.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 9 Up—This definitive update of Sadie's The New Grove Book of Operas (Oxford Univ., 2003; o.p.) includes, as did the earlier edition, full-plot synopses, cast lists from premiere performances, and biographical data on composers, all alphabetically arranged by opera. Seven minor operas have been cut from this work (including Der Barbier Von Bagdad and Penelope), and eight new hopefuls have been added (among them Emmeline, The Mother of Us All, and Sophie's Choice). Otherwise, the text is, word for word, the same as the earlier edition. The illustrations have changed: new black-and-white photos are scattered throughout the text, and sections of color photographs show sets, costume designs, posters, and scenes from various productions, including some staged as late as 2005. Another change is the inclusion of David J. Levin's perceptive introduction, "Issues and Trends in Contemporary Opera Production," which discusses the pros and cons of modern staging, directing/designing innovations, the introduction of technology into the opera world, and "opera at the margins." The essay ends with a list of suggested readings supporting his opinions. An extensive glossary and three large, cross-referenced indexes complete what is, to opera fans, an indispensable companion for consultation before performances (whether live or recorded), or, for novices, a key to a specialized realm. This volume is as informative and demanding as the previous edition.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Gr 8 Up—Between 1850 and 1875, government bureaucracy expanded and began detailed, systematic record keeping, providing "the first three-dimensional picture of the American people that far transcended the economically driven decennial census reports." Civil War-related statistics were not the only numbers collected; also documented were such aspects of life as religion, education, cost of living, and travel accidents. The 20 chapters here provide these statistics and accompanying essays on topics including climate, natural disasters, Native American life, politics, cities, "Representative Americans" (brief biographies of famous people of the time), architecture, science, the arts, popular culture, crime, and violence. The final chapter provides commentary on and excerpts from 12 important documents of the period, including literature such as Leaves of Grass and Mary Chestnut's Civil War Diaries; legislation, such as the Homestead Act; and a reproduction of pages from Montgomery Ward & Company's mail-order catalog of January 1874. Numerous black-and-white reproductions of paintings, maps, photographs, and illustrations fill the pages. But the heart of the volume is the charts. The numbers are fascinating, such as the weekly grocery bill for a Richmond family, 1860 versus 1863; pauper population of the United States by race, 1870; annual college expenses at some leading U.S. schools, mid 1800s. A tremendous amount of data is presented in small-print, two-columned pages, and sometimes in pallid document reproductions. Nonetheless, the volume will have wide appeal, intriguing students with an endless tale of numbers that reflect a burgeoning American character.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 9 Up—This authoritative and accessible reference tool is a comprehensive examination of Greek civilization and its impact on Western history, "from its earliest archaeological remains until the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C.E." The alphabetically arranged volumes are composed of 315 informative and engaging essays that range from one to eight pages in length. They cover art, daily life and customs, government, literature, medicine and science, war, the role of women, and mythology. Biographical entries profile statesmen, artists, writers, scientists, and philosophers, and relevant entries probe battles, philosophical movements, and types of literature. The material has been culled and updated from six other Salem Press sets: Great Events from History: The Ancient World, Prehistory-476 C.E. (2004); Great Lives from History: The Ancient World, Prehistory-476 C.E. (2004); Cyclopedia of World Authors (2004); Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (2002); Weapons and Warfare (2002); and Magill's Guide to Military History (2001). Twenty-nine new essays have been added, and the bibliographies have been revised. The user-friendly articles include thoughtful subheadings, see-also references, and a list of up-to-date further-reading resources. Each volume has a pronunciation guide, and volume three includes an annotated list of historic sites. Lucid black-and-white photos, tables, maps, and sidebars enhance this excellent presentation. David Sacks and Lisa Brody's Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World (Facts On File, 2005) is also broad in scope, but is geared toward an older audience.—Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library

Gr 8 Up—This fact-filled volume contains individual essays on each of the 110 members of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1789 to 2005. Entries describe each justice's work and impact on the court. The pieces are arranged alphabetically by the subject's last name, and chronological, case-name, and subject indexes are provided. Urofsky's preface expresses his perspectives on the operation of the court and how individual justices can influence it, and while contributors don't shy away from offering their own opinions, they are careful to place them into context and support them within the text. Articles range from 2 to 15 pages, with well-known and/or contemporary members rating the longer entries. The essays begin with a listing of the justice's birth and death dates; education; previous jobs; and Supreme Court service, including the president who nominated them, whose seat they took, and the individual who replaced them. Each entry includes a black-and-white portrait and ends with a short narrative bibliography and listing of noteworthy opinions. These are strictly career biographies; mentions of life outside of the court are few and far between. Also included are descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of supporting personnel, such as the Clerk of the Court and the Reporter of Decisions, and a list of all such officeholders. This update to The Supreme Court Justices: A Biographical Dictionary (Garland, 1994) portrays the world's oldest constitutional court as a living, breathing, powerful institution.—Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL