Reference

Gr 10 Up—This specialized, sometimes scholarly title is a treatise on the past, present, and future of the media, and the effects it has or has had on our daily lives. Though it is worldwide in scope, the alphabetically arranged work focuses on issues pertaining to the United States. Eighty-eight entries cover topics ranging from Al Jazeera, reality television, journalists in peril, and pirate radio to television in schools, women's magazines, body image, and shock jocks. Each entry contains an opening paragraph that explains the "key concept or battleground topic," cross-references, and a list of further readings. Some entries contain extensive sidebar information or time lines. The format is plain—single-column text with no illustrations, though a few articles are accompanied by tables. This title will be quite useful where media studies are in place.—Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS

Gr 10 Up—This grand compendium introduces readers to major, minor, and obscure poets of the age, as well as to important and exemplary works. Some of the lesser-read major poets of all time, such as Alexander Pope, John Dryden, Ben Jonson, and George Herbert, are included, as are several relatively unknown female poets. The 400-plus clearly written and informative entries range in length from 300 to more than 2500 words. Found throughout the volume are brief excerpts, "see" references, and bibliographies. The author's intelligent approach and deft handling of difficult materials and a complex period make this book a great addition where resources on the topic are sought. However, collections with limited budgets and access to online databases, such as EBSCO's Literary Reference Center and Gale's Literary Resource Center, might find it difficult to justify purchase of another resource covering the same period.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 5 Up—This almost annual, general encyclopedia continues to strengthen as an authentic resource. Only subtly tweaked with selective revisions and updates since the 2005 and 2007 editions, the most significant differences can be observed between this edition and the 2004 edition—800 new or revised articles and 900-plus new or revised illustrations. The articles fall into general categories: "Arts," "Physical Science," "Living Things," "Medicine," "Technology and Business," "Geography," "History," "Social and Political Science," and "Potpourri" (a catchall for topics such as sports, hobbies, and religion). Adhering to nearly the same volume divisions and pagination as its 2007 predecessor, the set contains nuanced changes including the addition of a photo of a surgical robot in "Surgery," acknowledgment of the death of Kurt Vonnegut in 2007, and an update of "Electronic Games" that offers a photo of a Nintendo Wii demonstration. Biographical profiles tend to be historical and international in scope, so readers looking for current pop-culture icons will find few, if any. Some articles remain untouched, retaining outdated bibliographies or photographs. However, fabulous gems are found in most every volume, such as lengthy (10- to 30-page) treatments on horses, airplanes, anatomy, and nuclear energy, neatly subdivided and filled with color and black-and-white photographs and drawings. Geographical entries also shine and contain the most-often requested information for reports, including famous people associated with each U.S. state. The last volume, "Fact Index," is a mini-encyclopedia of its own, integrating the set index with nearly 30,000 short articles and fact boxes.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 9 Up—These engagingly written volumes provide a comprehensive examination of the history of clothing. Volume one (prehistory to 1500 C.E.) includes cultures such as ancient Greece and Persia; volume two (1501–1800) chronicles dress in places such as Europe, North America, India, and Japan; volume three (1801-present) has an international scope and is arranged chronologically. Each chapter targets a specific period and opens with an accurate and selectively detailed time line and an introduction to the era and the milestones in clothing and textiles, laying an appropriate foundation for the discussion that follows. The narrative is interspersed with plentiful, boxed supplementary material about historical topics mentioned in the text. Each chapter is appended with further reading suggestions (including Web sites), and a list of films, documentaries, and television shows. A user-friendly glossary concludes each volume. The authoritative presentation is enhanced by reproductions of paintings, decorations, and photos, in black-and-white throughout and in several pages of color inserts in each book . Bronwyn Cosgrave's The Complete History of Costume Fashion (Facts On File, 2001) is a similarly beautifully illustrated guide to the history of clothing for men and women from ancient to modern times from a cultural perspective. However, Condra's resource also covers dress for children, servants, and wealthy classes, and describes how a plethora of cultures influenced fashion. An outstanding purchase with an ambitious scope.—Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—Some books belong in print and others are better covered online. The brief, informative biographies collected here are insightful and clearly written, and the lists of works and sources of further information are helpful, but most of the authors introduced (from Diane Ackerman and Stephen Ambrose to Tobias Wolff and Bob Woodward) can be found in Gale's Literature Resource Center (specifically, in the "Contemporary Authors" file). What this book does well is collect a group of authors for serendipitous browsing and offer interesting insight into their overall oeuvre, but where it fails is in adding new value. Several of the entries don't include a picture. A genre index includes only the page numbers; there is no index listing authors by genre. Though this book isn't everything readers would hope for, it may be of some use in libraries without access to Gale or other similar databases.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 9 Up—Eason's work is closer to a personal collection of anecdotes and information than a systematic examination of the topic. Her sources range from the ancient to the contemporary with both literary and oral and Eastern and Western origins. Chapters cover animal worship, serpents, dragons, birds, magical animals, monsters, clan animals, water-creatures, and prophetic animals. The book's structure is sometimes nonintuitive (e.g., Herne is not mentioned in the animal-lord section), and given the few cross-references, a more inclusive index would have been helpful. Information is abundant but incomplete. The Lilith entry makes no mention of the dual creation accounts of Genesis and the Perseus and Andromeda myth is not cited as a model for St. George. The absence of illustrations (besides two black-and-white hieroglyph drawings) reduces the work's browsing potential; excluding Internet citations further weakens the volume's utility.—Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Gr 10 Up—This exceptional work will be essential to students needing assistance interpreting primary sources, and teachers will find it invaluable for incorporating those resources into their curriculums. The entries (some with typos) examine 133 chronologically arranged documents beginning with the British crown's Proclamation Act of 1763 and ending with the 2003 Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas. In between, the volumes cover major texts such as the Declaration of Independence, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Roe v. Wade, as well as lesser-known selections such as the Treaty of Fort Pitt with the Delaware Indian Nation, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Seneca Falls Convention Declaration of Sentiments, César Chávez's Commonwealth Address, and the 2002 Bybee Torture Memo. A database whose password is provided in the set covers the same information. The full-text documents are included except for lengthy Supreme Court cases, which the reader's guide notes are available "at any of several free Internet sites." The set's value lies in the in-depth information on a document's origin and influence, and the objective analysis provided (especially helpful when the legal or archaic language is difficult to understand). This well-organized work features entries with consistent subdivisions that illustrate the multifaceted examination of the resources. The subheadings include: "Overview," "Context," "Time Line," "Explanation and Analysis of the Document," "Impact," "Questions for Further Study," "Related Documents," and "Essential Quotes."—Madeleine G. Wright, Laconia High School, NH

Gr 7–10—These independent surveys chronologically cover similar territory from distinctly different angles. Governments profiles 270 political entities, beginning with the rise of Sumerian city-states, closing with the establishment of Montenegro as an independent state in 2006, and in between covering all of the current members of the United Nations plus major empires, confederations, and dynasties. The articles are punctuated by nine overview essays. Distinct governments that occupied similar geographic areas (such as Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic) are given separate entries. Each article opens with a brief description of the type of government, then traces relevant background, details structural elements and political parties (if any), and closes with an account of either the entity's downfall or issues that it is currently facing. War focuses on significant conflicts from the Assyrian conquests in the 9th century B.C.E. to "The Global War on Terrorism." Entries open with a series of short biographies, go on to describe major battles, highlight "Key Elements of Warcraft," and close with an analysis of the conflict's enduring impact. The writing in War is lively, occasionally shading into melodramatic: the Assyrian Empire flourished for centuries before "imploding spectacularly, perishing under the booted heel of vengeful conquerors…." Both sets are illustrated with a perfunctory assortment of low-contrast black-and-white pictures and often-hard-to-read maps, but do feature generous multimedia resource lists and full indexes in each volume. Being both narrow in approach and high in price, these will be most suitable for world-class subject collections.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 10 Up—A set preface, volume introductions, and headnotes (brief ethnographic, historical, comparative, or stylistic points) for each tale immensely increase the Library's usefulness. The editor has tried to avoid Western-centric bias, especially in categorizing (tales are grouped by culture or geopolitical divisions), but many of the more than 450 tales were collected or rewritten (by Hearn, Lang, et al) for Western audiences. Though a few selections are taken from national epics ("The Mahabharata," "The Prose Edda"), other culture-defining tales (e.g., "Monkey") are omitted. No such collection can be all-inclusive, but there is a good blend of subgenres, of the familiar and the rare, and the sacred and the secular, from hundreds of ethnic groups. The Encyclopedia, too, has a global scope, and ranges from antiquity to the present in its 670 entries. It covers commercial films, music, and young adult novels, as well as motifs, writers, tale types, and ethnic groups. An introduction contextualizes fairy tale studies and provides an extensive bibliography (a subset of the closing 64-page offering). Cross-references appear in boldface throughout. The cumulative index requires some expertise: it lists the Chinese novelist and poet Wú Chéng'n, but not "Sn Wùkng" or "Monkey," a character in his novel X Yóu Jì, though all of these terms are mentioned in the article on the writer. Both sets, with their occasional black-and-white illustrations, will be accessible and useful to sophisticated newcomers to the genre.—Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Gr 10 Up—In approximately 700 alphabetical entries, this volume covers the basic concepts, beliefs, and practices of Buddhism. Of note is its treatment of more than 200 prominent figures, past and present; major organizations and societies; and discussions of the religion around the world, from Afghanistan and Africa to the United States and Vietnam. Other Asian religions are also discussed. The entries are unsigned and vary considerably in length, quality, readability, and appeal. They conclude with further reading references. Assorted appendixes and black-and-white maps and photos round out the volume. Many locations mentioned in the entries aren't on the maps, including Tibet; there are internal inconsistencies in dates and spellings, and the articles about monks are weak. Overall, though, this is a compelling, practical, and straightforward work. Robert E. Buswell, Jr.'s Encyclopedia of Buddhism (Macmillan, 2004), a two-volume set with nearly 500 entries and more illustrations, emphasizes history and literature and is more theoretical.—Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 10 Up—This set "explore[s] the myriad connections and interconnections of the Atlantic World" by examining the historical and continuing interactions between the Americas and Africa. It opens with four introductory essays ("Demography, Diaspora, and International Relations"; "Culture and Religion"; "Economics and Trade"; and "Arts, Literature, and Sport"). The rest of the text consists of more than 500 alphabetically arranged articles that run from less than one page to about five. Topics stressed are countries; the arts; ethnic and cultural groups; history; international organizations; people; migrations; gender; religions; slavery; and racial divisions. Most of the entries are informative and contain material that is not generally available in school libraries, but they do not offer a great deal of in-depth information. Many are written from an Afrocentric perspective, critical of the European and American empires that transported and enslaved Africans, colonized the continent, and created a lasting legacy of racism. The set elevates African and less-important black achievements and seldom criticizes racist groups or individuals. For example, the "Nation of Islam" article praises leader Louis Farrakhan without mentioning his inflammatory comments about the Jewish community, though such concerns are noted in the article on Farrakhan. Articles are cross-referenced and each one has a short bibliography. Average-quality black-and-white photographs and reproductions of period illustrations and portraits supplement the text. The index is extensive. This set will be helpful to researchers, but it should be considered supplemental.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 10 Up—These approximately 740 articles update information found in the Dictionary of Scientific Biography (1970–1980) and its two-volume 1990 supplement. They also reevaluate previously discussed scientists (Isaac Newton); add prominent individuals who have died since the previous publication (Stephen Gould); include new or previously minimally treated fields such as computer science (Ada Lovelace), ecology (Aldo Leopold), the sociology and philosophy of science (Thomas Kuhn), and psychology (Jean Piaget); and groups underrepresented in the earlier editions, such as Arabic peoples of the medieval era, females, African Americans, and Asians. This latter extension is hard to verify, as there is no ethnic-, nationality-, or gender-based list; African-American scientists Charles Drew and Percy Julian, however, are absent. Articles discuss the scientists' lives and the social context and technical aspects of their work. Each entry includes a bibliography, and many have black-and-white portraits or photographs of subjects at work. Though generally comprehensible to students with a strong science background, some articles are more accessible than others. A detailed index, cross-references, and a list of scientists by field are additional strengths. Schools that have the earlier work may want this update; others may prefer the electronic Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, which includes the material from both print works.—Judith V. Lechner, Auburn University, AL

Gr 6–10—Easily superseding Marc Rothenberg's History of Science in the United States (Garland, 2000), this important resource offers hundreds of detailed articles mostly from academic authors. Entries cover both notable and lesser-known American scientists and explorers, scientific organizations, and American contributions to major developments in a range of scientific fields. Gathered into 14 categories, such as "Natural History," "Geography," "Applied Science," and "Behavioral Sciences," the profiles in each one are sandwiched between three or four introductory essays and a like number of primary sources. Though there are no cross-references and the alphabetical order can make arrangement seem arbitrary, a comprehensive "Topic Finder" and a set index in each volume facilitate access. The brief "Abortion" article isn't quite as noncommittal as the one headed "Creation," both of which were written by the same author, but in general controversial topics receive evenhanded treatment. On the other hand, the short bibliographies at each article's end are cumulated into an indigestible list in volume three, the illustrations are few, and the list of online resources rather skimpy. More significantly, Lawson's personal views color many of his frequent contributions ("The Puritan idea of a shining 'city upon a hill' is alive and vigorous in twenty-first-century America. Many American scientists work under similar assumptions…") and the one-nation scope of the work is a major limitation considering the international nature of scientific research. Nonetheless, students of the history of science and technology will find this invaluable.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up—Divided into 10 sections, these volumes examine 500 years of warfare, from the continent's European discovery and conquest through 2006 (the previous edition only covered through 1998, the year of its publication). Topics include intertribal warfare, European rivals, independence movements, Cold War politics, and terrorism. Each section has an introductory paragraph followed by entries covering significant dates written in lively present tense. These, combined with a plethora of facts including names, details of ships, and even the time of day an event occurred, make for amazing reading. Black-and-white maps, bland illustrations, a few grainy photographs, and sidebars are scattered throughout. The table of contents does not contain a listing of these additions, even though many of the sidebars are longer than entries. There are no textual footnotes or cross-references. Nonetheless the author has succeeded in his intention to "provide both scholarly and amateur historians with rapid access to information…." Libraries with regional collections will find this a welcome addition.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Gr 2–5—Including a reference guide to letter pronunciation at the bottom of each spread, this work also includes an alphabet locator on the side of each page. Clear guide words and extensive use of cross-references enable users to locate definitions and synonyms. Clearly captioned color photographs and some drawings, including the relevant definition as needed, bring the entries to life. Homographs are identified, and word histories are included throughout, adding to the interest level of the work. Each definition includes examples, and guidance such as variant spellings and usage labels ("often cap") are provided where necessary. A closing reference section includes a spread for each continent, color images of the flags of the world and of U.S. states, significant data on each state, a chronological listing of U.S. presidents and vice presidents, and common abbreviations. The book concludes with a listing of signs and symbols and a comprehensive index to all pictures in the work. The clear, easy-to-read print and bright pictures of varied type and source make this work easy for second or third graders to use, while fourth and fifth graders will appreciate the depth of the entries.—Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Yeshiva Har Torah, Little Neck, NY

Gr 9 Up—The vast majority of these nearly 500 entries cover individuals, but they also include organizations, locations, and important court cases. Articles range in length from a few sentences to several pages, and about a quarter of them list further reading (usually one popular literature citation). The authors are carefully neutral. However, Charles Darwin and the Scopes Trial are overemphasized, with every person and place even remotely connected to them noted. The book is surprisingly unprofessional. There are neither cross-references nor a glossary. Evolution and creationism are never defined; while much of the material is accessible to high school students, the authors at times assume a college-level scientific and religious background. This results in some difficult, unexplained vocabulary ("biblical flat-Earthism," "Young-Earth creationism," "pangenesis"). Many articles omit key facts or are tantalizingly incomplete. Human-interest material abounds, including awards and prizes, marriage(s), children, and burial places, while scientific relevance is underplayed. Minor individuals get a limited snapshot relating to evolution or creationism; the entry on Sinclair Lewis, for example, only mentions his novel Elmer Gantry. Major players receive more comprehensive biographies, which plunge into their lives without concisely identifying their significance, and lack summaries. There are scattered black-and-white illustrations. The preface mentions the publisher's related Web site without indicating its address. Finally, the index oddly includes quotations, many under "A," "An," or "The," as are book titles. Stanley A. Rice's Encyclopedia of Evolution (Facts On File, 2006) provides more complete coverage. Nothing similar is available on creationism.—Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 2–4—Written for use by emergent readers, this revision of the 1990 edition contains updated information (for example, on the Internet, and a current list of U.S. presidents) that makes it a useful replacement. The book features large, easy-to-read text, judicious use of white space, and more than 1400 color illustrations and photographs. Each entry includes variant forms of the term and example sentences; there are word histories for selected entries. While the dictionary contains definitions for various religious holidays, it lacks entries for the major religions. In addition to the expected guide words at the top of each page, spreads feature vertically printed alphabets on either side, with the relevant letter highlighted to ease navigation. An introduction demonstrates how to use the volume, and the book ends with a reference section, which boasts U.S. and world maps; listings of U.S. states and facts about them; the country's presidents, First Ladies, and vice presidents; and a map of the solar system, accompanied by information regarding each planet. This is a particularly welcome addition to libraries serving ESL students because the definitions are basic but they are not dumbed down.—Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Yeshiva Har Torah, Little Neck, NY

Gr 6–10—Libraries that did not purchase the 2006 edition of this essential resource get another tempting chance. As before, each volume of the set is devoted to either one or several related areas of science and closes with a comprehensive index. The latter comes in handy, as cross-references are rare and all of the articles are lengthy surveys, arranged topically rather than alphabetically within their respective sections. Though nearly all of the many contributors sport advanced degrees, the presentation is aimed at lay readers-albeit serious ones, as even a glance at the "Mathematics" section or the "Particle Physics" or "Musical Sounds" articles quickly demonstrates—and is well supplied with informative color photos and charts. Along with hundreds of small changes plus updated tables of Nobel Prize winners, space missions, and the like, new entries covering "Portable Media Players" and "Scientific Illustration," and information on computer graphics have been added. There is an online version available (for a fee). No public library or school collection designed to support active, extensive enquiry in the sciences from middle and upper grade students can be considered complete without this or the previous edition.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 10 Up—Well researched and informative, this work offers an in-depth survey of the world's major slave revolts and touches on many of the lesser-known aspects of them. Little has been written about this topic since the documentation of the subject is relatively scanty (largely because slave revolts were rarely successful). The book examines variations in slavery definitions and details the earliest (pre-1500) forms of rebellion across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and pre-Columbian America. Chapters are based on those geographic areas and on themes, such as marronage (rebellion through flight). The brutality of the suppression of these revolts is a common theme, as is the idea that, until 1790, rebellions were usually organized in response to poor treatment or the threat of punishment rather than attempts to overthrow the institution of slavery. Much attention is given to the uprisings that took place on slave ships. Also detailed are the circumstances in which slaves would be most likely to mutiny (e.g., those not born into slavery were more likely to take such action) and the circumstances in which uprisings were less likely (e.g., areas such as Japan and China where the slave population was too small for collaborative action). The book also contains an extensive bibliography and a short collection of biographical entries of individuals who played important roles. Several maps but lamentably few illustrations are included. This intriguing reference stands alone in its field and will be a solid addition.—Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

Gr 9 Up—These 97 well-researched, alphabetically arranged entries include profiles of prominent individuals who have concealed or denied their sexual orientation as well as those who have forced open the closet and are fighting for equal rights. More than a quarter of the entries are devoted to the film industry: directors, actors, or movies. There are only 14 entries on lesbian popular culture. Absent are Rita Mae Brown, Jane Chambers, and other women known for their contributions to popular fiction, theater, and television (the groundbreaking TV show The L Word receives only a brief, unindexed mention). Given the omissions, the inclusion of such a significant number of heterosexuals, such as Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, who are icons in the gay community, is somewhat puzzling. For LGBT encyclopedias with more depth and breadth (albeit more adult material), better choices would be Bonnie Zimmerman and George Haggerty's Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures (Garland, 1999) or David A. Gerstner's Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture (Routledge, 2006).—Betty S. Evans, Missouri State University, Springfield

Gr 10 Up—This set of essays is an excellent, comprehensive reference source. Entries describe and review more than 100 core works, and give information about their authors. Histories, biographies, diaries, etc., form two-thirds of the list, while the rest consists of literary fiction, poetry, and drama. Well-known authors such as Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank, Aharon Appelfeld, and Primo Levi are included, but it is the representation of a wide variety of other writers and more recent works that make the volumes outstanding. For example, James Carroll's Constantine's Sword is discussed, as are Deborah E. Lipstadt's History on Trial, Samantha Power's "A Problem from Hell," and Nicole Krauss's best seller, The History of Love. All of these examples serve to provide a modern component to the study of the subject and expand the themes. The work also includes a number of reviews of popular young adult books on the Holocaust, such Carol Matas's Daniel's Story, Johanna Reiss's The Upstairs Room, Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, and David A. Adler's Our Golda. Each volume contains a list of the major European concentration camps and a time line of the genocide. The second volume also includes a further-reading list with more than 200 works listed by genre and a generous listing of useful Web sites.—Lisa Silverman, Sinai Temple Library, Los Angeles

Gr 9 Up—Arranged alphabetically, this set discusses a host of topics, from "Abolitionism: The Movement" to "Zoot Suit Riots." The 600 entries have more than 200 black-and-white graphics, including tables, graphs, maps, and photographs. Entries cover people, education, gender and family, immigration, community and urban issues, and concepts and theories. The set takes a global approach, with entries on China, Canadian Aboriginal women, American Indian tribes, the Caribbean, and environmental justice, to name a few. Appendixes provide "Data on Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 1820 to the Present" and several pages of related Internet resources. This ambitious undertaking touches all bases, is highly accessible, and provides a solid starting point for further exploration.—Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ

Gr 10 Up—Focusing on non-English-speaking countries, this set offers both personal information about famous authors, such as Umberto Eco and Kahlil Gibran, and lesser-known figures, such as Patricia Grace and Knut Hamsun, as well as thematic critiques of their novels. Since the writers and their works are often treated in separate essays, substantial information can be found on familiar novels, such as Nigerian Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. The ethnic coverage is a bit lopsided: European authors account for the most entries, while African writers receive less coverage than Japanese authors, and there is only a smattering of South American and Middle Eastern representatives. Bibliographic citations appear at the end of each article and are collected in an appendix, there is an index of works by country, and the thorough subject index should prove useful. Libraries serving a diverse and extensive literature curriculum will benefit from this title.—Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive and outstanding resource covers much more than Western civilization. It presents a balanced, inclusive perspective on historical, social, political, and economic issues that students will need in order to function in a global society. The almost 2000 entries are alphabetically arranged and in many instances are further organized by subtopics. "Military," for example, includes "Military Organization," "Military Service," "Military Technology," and "Africa" and other places. Just about every conceivable topic is included, such as "Bush Doctrine," "Blue Jeans," "Social movements," "Slave Trade," "Decolonization," "Human Rights," "Gender and Sexuality," "Nationalism," "Napoleonic Wars," "Wahabbism," and "Mountain climbing." Articles include how the subjects are viewed and used in various countries. For instance, "Blue Jeans" describes the garments' development during the California Gold Rush, how they were part of every youth movement since the 1950s, and the globalization of their production. Many articles are accompanied by black-and-white maps or average-quality photographs. Volume 8 contains a 354-page general index and a "Topical Outline of Entries" with groupings such as "Countries and Regions"; "Science and Technology"; "Government, Politics, and Law"; "Thought"; "Religion"; and "Revolutions." Ideal for social studies classes that need well-written and -researched information with a global perspective.—Madeleine G. Wright, Laconia High School, NH

Gr 9 Up—These volumes cover the period from the beginning of World War II to the early years of rock and roll. Chapters in World War II include "Music About World War II"; "Popular Hits and Standards"; "Swing, Jazz, and Rhythm 'n' Blues"; "Country Music" (including folk), and "Classical Music." Other chapters deal with the music business, radio, and stage and screen. An appendix of "Broadway and Hollywood Musicals by Title, 1939–1945" is, in the author's words, "reasonably complete." A musical time line for 1939–1945; an appendix of the songs, composers, and lyricists of the war; extensive notes; and a lengthy selected bibliography help to make this volume a useful reference. Postwar Era discusses changes in popular musical taste that came with the shift to peacetime and the return of military personnel to civilian life, when big bands gave way to individual singers, country-and-western music gained a wider audience, Broadway and Hollywood musicals continued to thrive, and Elvis Presley hit the scene. With lists of noteworthy performers and composers similar to those in the companion volume, this work also lists "The Combined Hits Charts for 1945–1959" and has an extensive bibliography. Both volumes are recommended for readers interested in musical history, popular culture of the 1940s and 1950s, or both.—Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA

Gr 10 Up—This massive work is designed to be informative and "enjoyable reading." The more than 450 entries (events, phrases, people) include each state and each presidential election, but not each candidate or winner. Many entries-"Battleground States," "Catholic Vote," "Farm Vote," "Issue Ownership Theory," "Nonvoters," "Voter Alienation"-are clear explanations of phrases heard in the news. Large issues, such as campaigns, are divided into subsets, e.g., "Campaigns, Local," and "Campaigns, U.S. Representatives." References to the 2008 campaigns are included. Articles vary in their approach; some state entries are political histories, whereas others recount the state's history from its Native American roots to today. Each entry has fine cross-references and a bibliography. Frequent black-and-white photographs mostly depict politicians and issues related to campaigns (such as images of hospital patients in "Healthcare"). For the most part, the Encyclopedia reaches its goals; however, a few sections are weak, including a skimpy "Political Climate" (covering only 2006 and 2008). One glaring error: Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas is a Democrat, not a Republican, as she is described. Historical information on suffrage, the black vote, and each presidential election is excellent. Overall, a first-rate resource, and yes, pleasantly readable.—Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive set includes 1200 entries from "Abortion" to "Zoll, Paul M." They cover a broad range of topics-physical and mental health; current health status in each country; biographies of key individuals; profiles of major medical institutes, organizations, corporations, and foundations; descriptions of major drugs and operations; and articles on national health policies. Volume one includes a helpful "Reader's Guide" that groups articles by theme and a chronology covering advances from 10,000 to 8000 B.C.E. through 2007. An alphabetical contents list is included in each volume. The thorough entries vary in length, and each one concludes with a bibliography and cross-references. Sometimes access is an issue. For example, there is no entry or "see" reference for "Avian Flu," only for "Bird Flu." Also, while they are full of useful information, the articles may be beyond the abilities of many high school students, and the writing can be choppy. While not clearly stated in the text, many of the statistics on countries are based on estimates and read more as generalizations than actual measurements ("all Irish in the relevant age groups are enrolled in primary and secondary school"). A few black-and-white stock photographs are scattered throughout. Each volume concludes with a comprehensive index. The appendix offers "Core Health Indicators by Country" according to the World Health Organization. Additional.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA