Reference Review

Gr 4–8—With its colorful photos, pleasant drawings, and plentiful sidebars, this exploration of numerous freshwater and marine creatures is attractive. A closer look reveals anomalies in organization, mainly caused by the set's alphabetical arrangement. For example, Atlantic salmon have a private niche in volume one and sockeye salmon surface in volume five, but there is no general entry for salmon. "Whales and Dolphins" is a section in volume six, but individual species pop up for air all over. Entries cover a spread and include a "Fact File" that lists the species' Latin name and its classification, the characteristics of its habitat, size, coloration, diet, breeding patterns, endangered status, and, in some cases, life span. The narrative portion of some entries is scientifically informative while in others it is merely chatty (material on the clown loach, for example, falls into the latter category). Coverage can be puzzling—a long spiel about malaria in the article on single-celled life, while informative, will leave readers wondering how the first mosquito picked up Plasmodium to start the cycle. Each volume contains an identical introduction, and family trees for invertebrates, and for fish and mammals (sirenians and cetaceans only). Each volume contains its own index, with a set index residing in the final volume. Browsable, but not essential.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Gr 10 Up—Collaboration between British and German photo archivists has made possible this collection of battlefield panoramas originally taken as part of reconnaissance or artillery operations during World War I. Black-and-white and sepia-toned photographs have been painstakingly digitized and are presented on spreads, many of which open to span more than two feet. The widest photos provide mesmerizing details of war-ravaged terrain, fallen troops, mud-filled trenches, and artillery details. Many color photos of the same landscape, as it appears today, are shown alongside the black-and-white images. Color maps appear at frequent intervals, providing a frame of reference for troop movements, trench locations, and more. Original illustrations of German tunneled dugouts and primary-source material such as soldiers' humorous sketches and letters create personal connections. For example, in one letter, a soldier describes a small garden being planted in the football-field-size trench in which he lives. The text, in chapters grouped by city or battle, is detailed and mostly reflects the British effort in France and Belgium, supplemented with additional views from German counterparts. The incredibly detailed coverage, including sensitive visuals of casualties, provides hours of study for mature readers. The accompanying DVD-ROM contains 350 British and German panoramas in zoomable form.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 7 Up—This highly readable work, covering the colonial era to the present, includes a wide range of individuals, among them architects, attorneys, educators, mayors, U.S. presidents, farmers, gardeners, leaders of environmental organizations, theologians, and writers. There are also lists of activists, organizers, and whistle-blowers. Some of those featured, such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Rachel Carson, are well-known, while others, such as Julia Butterfly Hill, who spent two years in a redwood to protest clear-cutting, may be new to readers. Each approximately two-page entry consists of an opening paragraph that establishes the subject's primary contribution, followed by a chronological description that includes education, career development and highlights, and a brief bibliography. Occasional black-and-white photographs range from portraits to scenes of environmental work. Leaders concludes with a section of key documents, from "The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations: The Great Binding Law" (written in the 12th or 13th century) to "Global Warming 20 Years Later: Tipping Points Near," a briefing delivered to Congress in 2008. A valuable overview of the history and direction of U.S. environmental action.—Judith V. Lechner, Auburn University, AL

Gr 7 Up—Reprints of articles, essays, letters, cartoons, and columns from the pages of the New York Times present insights on 29 presidencies from Franklin Pierce (who was in office when the newspaper debuted in 1851) through George W. Bush. An opening section summarizes each administration, outlining elections and major issues. Well-chosen entries follow in chronological order, with brief summaries providing context for each. Typical chapters feature 15 to 25 entries, while some exceed 30, and together they provide an intriguing array of news and opinions from the relevant era. The real-time nature of newspaper reporting often provides an interesting angle on history, as in the 1976 article declaring that Ronald Reagan was "too old to consider seriously another run at the Presidency." Editorials are clearly labeled so that readers can identify the difference between reporting and opinion. The index is fairly detailed, so that topics that span several presidencies can be traced over time. Each chapter includes one political cartoon and a black-and-white photo or reproduction. The rich variety of material offers a good look at the actions of the presidents, their impact, and public reactions. Varied viewpoints and primary-source material make this a valuable resource to supplement the more straightforward narrative approach used in most single-volume works on the presidents.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Gr 3–7—Covering the sport's history over the past 150 years, this well-researched set is primarily on American baseball, although a few articles give a nod to the pastime's growing popularity in Asia and Latin America. While the biographies are not as comprehensive as those in Matthew Silverman, Michael Gershman, and David Pietrusza's Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia (Total Sports, 2000), students will learn about all the players who have been named to the Hall of Fame, as well as some current sluggers to watch. Articles on major league teams, the World Series, and baseball slang provide fascinating reading. Crisp, engaging writing and full-color photographs on every page will draw in seasoned fans and newcomers alike. Appendixes in each volume offer additional information on topics from how to keep score to the Little League World Series and from a century's worth of champions to the 17 "perfect games" in baseball history. This is one reference resource that will spend little time on the shelf.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Gr 10 Up—These essays cover a wide range of novels and stories and include discussions of works by some authors who may not come to mind when considering the genre. John Steinbeck's Cup of Gold merits an article, for example, although Steinbeck himself does not. Familiar adventure writers do, however, receive entries, and the book includes discussion of Jules Verne and Jack London as well as more contemporary authors such as Robert Ludlum and the team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Each work of fiction is critically analyzed, and certain features of the genre, such as "hard-boiled detectives" and "superheroes" have their own entries. The extensive bibliography lists adventure fiction by authors mentioned in the book. While not every title is discussed, its inclusion in the bibliography is a useful feature. Although not a necessary purchase, Encyclopedia will fit in nicely with other works on literary genres. A solid choice for libraries that serve a population in need of deep literary analysis.—Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA

Gr 10 Up—Well-researched entries examine all aspects of our 16th president's life and career through the perspective of politics. Biographies of key figures in Lincoln's administration and in his personal life examine how they played a part in his political development or in his presidency. Other entries cover the various events that led up to the Civil War, including the early compromise attempts by the U.S. government and the attack on Fort Sumter, as well as key events and battles of the war. Students can also read about Edward Everett and his speech before Lincoln's at Gettysburg; about the origins of the Lincoln penny and the eponymous Memorial; and the Homestead Act. There is some unevenness in writing style and quality, and there are some small factual errors. For example, the entry on Andrew Johnson talks about his early political career in "Greenville," TN; the town's name is spelled Greeneville. The black-and-white photographs and other reproductions sprinkled throughout are informative and contribute to the text. In a year in which many Lincoln reference works are published, this one will add a different dimension to reference collections, and will be particularly valuable for Advanced Placement students.—Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN

Gr 9 Up—Goloboy follows her opening chronology with a section called "Work and Daily Life." Other chapters cover "White Male Artisans," "Free Women Workers," "Slaves," "Manufacturers," and "Consumers." The second part, "Politics of the Public Sphere," provides chapters on "Readers and Writers," "Working Class," "Middle Class," and "Immigrants." This work approaches history from the ground level, and the two short biographies in each chapter (Solomon Northup, author of Twelve Years a Slave; Chauncey Jerome, manufacturer of metal clocks) reflect this nature. Wyatt's chronology covers from von Guericke's 1654 atmospheric-pressure machine experiments to Queen Victoria's 1901 death. Opening chapters, "Historical Overview," "The Way We Were: On the Eve of the Industrial Revolution," and "The Agricultural Revolution in Great Britain," set the stage, and the era is addressed in chapters on Britain, the United States, mainland Europe, and the non-Western world. Fifteen biographies (Henry Bessemer, Edmund Cartwright) and 21 annotated primary sources (excerpts from Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives; a period article on railroad statistics) are provided. The straightforward, unbiased, but scholarly works are accompanied by source notes and black-and-white images. Goloboy's volume incorporates biographies in the chapters that cover the individual's lifetime, whereas Wyatt offers more detailed biographies in a separate section. Both books detail the lifestyle changes that characterized the era and offer numerous viewpoints on it. They are worthy general purchases depending on need. While Goloboy focuses on the Industrial Revolution in the United States, Wyatt also looks at the period prior to it and addresses global ramifications.—Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA

Gr 4–8—This introduction to each president serves as a solid basis for research. Most subjects are covered on a single spread, with biographical information opposite boxes that provide family details, assorted facts, and a time line. The book is divided into seven sections ("The Founding Presidents," "Cold War Presidents," etc.), each of which opens with an overview describing the crucial issues and historical context of the subjects' times. Clearly written narratives cover career highlights chronologically, with enough information provided for readers to grasp the general character and key actions of each figure. Controversies and failures are noted but not dwelt upon, and each leader's strengths are mentioned, even if his overall accomplishments were unremarkable. Themed articles are interspersed throughout, dealing with general topics such as First Ladies, assassinations, and vice presidents. These note general trends and highlight some commonalities and differences over time. The uncluttered layout includes black-and-white and color photographs and paintings, usually several per spread. An accessible, appealing resource.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Gr 10 Up—With more than 600 signed biographical, conceptual, and thematic essays, this work purports to provide an interdisciplinary account of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer life in America over the past 60 years. However, even a brief look at the "Guide to Related Topics" reveals that the entries are heavily weighted toward literature (more than 300) and the arts, with almost all of the biographical entries taken exclusively from these genres. Key LGBTQ figures from other fields, such as Ellen DeGeneres, Billie Jean King, and Harvey Milk, are relegated to brief mentions in broad 1000–2500-word essays on television shows, sports, and San Francisco, respectively. In addition, many entries, while informative and scholarly, and including useful cross-references and bibliographies, have confounding topics such as "Political Scandals" and "Film, American and Non-American Influences," making the "Guide to Related Topics" and detailed index of utmost importance. While this encyclopedia has found a niche in documenting even the most minor LGBTQ literary figures, it will not stand alone as a school's sole resource on this subject. Marc Stein's Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America (Gale, 2003) is more inclusive.—Betty S. Evans, Missouri State University, Springfield

Gr 6–9—This comprehensive set endeavors to examine every area of human activity and the consequent effects on the environment. The volumes provide careful examinations of worldwide ecosystems, consumer goods, food, housing, and transportation. Consumable Goods, for example, concentrates not only on which light bulbs are most efficient but also on the worldwide repercussions of trash disposal. Included is a room-by-room survey of an average household and suggestions for better choices in goods and appliances. Each volume includes an appropriate experiment and a research project—for example Durable Goods suggests checking your showerhead, and Transportation urges the planning of an alternative transportation day for your school or community. Illustrated with full-color photographs, charts, and maps, the set will help students to understand the concepts behind the green movement and the consequences of status quo, and demonstrates how to apply green suggestions to everyday life. In covering such a vast subject, some aspects are not fully examined. In Pollution, the burial of nuclear wastes beneath Yucca Mountain in Nevada is said to be opposed by U.S. citizens, but no reasons are given, nor alternatives offered. Also, a section on purchasing, driving, and maintaining an automobile is for an older audience. However, this broad introduction is a valuable resource for recommending alternatives to current harmful practices.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Gr 8 Up—While librarians can confidently send report writers to this volume, it's also the sort of book in which armchair travelers and bibliophiles are bound to get lost. The title covers road trips, historical journeys, explorations, voyages, sacred routes, military campaigns and trails, treks, "natural splendors," and literary jaunts, with each spread focusing on one. The colorful maps are prominent against the white pages but not always the main focus; quality color photos and reproductions, multiple shaded sidebars (including short lists of relevant titles), and pull quotes compete for attention. Captions can be somewhat general in nature and not all artwork is attributed. Though Journeys is not comprehensive, history and literature students will find the basic facts on the campaigns of Alexander the Great, Francisco Pizarro, and Hannibal; the routes of Marco Polo, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and Mungo Park; and the fictional and actual travels of literary figures and characters such as Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, John Steinbeck, and Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg. But it's the surprises—"Highway 61," "The Gringo Road," "The Hippie Trail to Kathmandu," "The Hajj," "The Orient Express," "Odysseus"—that will delight and sidetrack readers. It would be a shame to limit copies of this book to the reference shelves.—Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

Gr 3–6—Bridging the publisher's Primary Dictionary and its Intermediate or School offerings, this update contains more than 36,000 entries and 800 color illustrations, photographs, and diagrams, many of them new. Most entries include sample sentences; 1300 are quotations from popular children's books (listed in an appendix). The work of classic authors such as Louisa May Alcott and E. B. White, along with contemporary writers such as Judy Blume and Jack Gantos, is excerpted to "…help build language skills and encourage a love of reading." Many of the quotes are uninspiring and not particularly representative of the books: for example, a line from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Scholastic, 1999) reads: "The sides of the car were scratched and smeared with mud." On each page, guide words in color appear at the top, and a vertical alphabet list (with the current letter framed) scrolls down the margin. Most pages have one or two images or highlighted paragraphs discussing word histories, Greek and Latin roots, or synonyms. "Headscratchers" contain inane curiosities such as, "Thousand is the first number whose name is spelled using an a. That means that you can count from zero to nine-hundred, ninety-nine without ever using an a!" Front matter includes a labeled page key and an explanatory "Using Your Dictionary" note. Signs and symbols (including mathematical and business-writing conventions), a geographical name dictionary, and full-color political world and U.S. maps are appended.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 9 Up—According to this encyclopedic work, a counterculture is any movement that "stands in opposition to the conventional," and that includes everything from the Chicago Seven, cult movies, and Ben and Jerry's ice cream to freak shows, temperance movements, and Wiccans. The brief and informative entries include further-reading suggestions (some obscure, such as those in "Streaking"), and each volume includes a "Topic Finder," with entries organized by group. The central notion of this book—that almost anything may constitute a countercultural movement—is hard to swallow. Misiroglu's introduction sheds some light when it refers to the set as a "cabinet of wonders." There is a sense that this is a collection of oddities stirred into a serendipitous and caveat-filled agglomeration of the crass and the creative as well as the truly unconventional. Illustration choice is often a problem. For example, the article on Jack Chick describes the artist's style but shows no example of his infamous tract comics. Though this book has several weaknesses (some of the writing is spotty), it is a catalog of American idealism that will be not only informative to students seeking research material but also inspirational to those who feel left out.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 10 Up—Successfully providing a "gender lens on society," this set features nearly 500 signed essays on a variety of contemporary issues (dieting, same-sex marriage); people (Eleanor Roosevelt, Matthew Shepard); organizations (Promise Keepers, Arab Feminist Union); and events (International Women's Day, Million Man March). Volume one includes a reader's guide that is divided into categories such as "Associations and Organizations," "Economics, Environment, and Ecology," "International Development and Human Rights," and "Sexuality and Reproduction," and which notes related topics but doesn't include page numbers. The same volume also has a lengthy introduction explaining the field of gender scholarship, the organization and creation of the encyclopedia, and a brief contributor list noting affiliations but not credentials. The study of gender and society is complex, and while many of these essays would be of some interest to high school students, the most likely audience is students of gender studies. That said, the essays are mostly unbiased, use lay language when possible, and employ bibliographies and cross-references. The extensive index highlights main entries.—Betty S. Evans, Missouri State University, Springfield

Gr 9 Up—Temperate, perceptive, and above all wise, these 450 engaging essays offer an inspiring glance into some major, as well as very minor, poets and specific works. Spanning in time from staid Edwardian traditionalism to explosive postmodern wordplay and political posturing, the volume provides a glimpse of subgenres from Georgian poetry and postcolonialism to feminism and performance poetry. It is extremely well written, clear, and scholarly without being self-indulgently erudite. The serious treatment of even largely forgotten figures such as Walter de la Mare is commendable. This work stresses the true value of poetry, its public as well as its private worth, the struggle that went into the creation of even forgotten compositions, and the impact those works may have on literature in general. In so doing it engages readers, piquing their interest and drawing them back to those dusty shelves of neglected works. Though much of the information here could easily be accessed through online databases such as Gale's Literature Resource Center or their Literary Reference Center, this is a deliciously inspiring collection of essays.—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 10 Up—Drawing on anthropology, archaeology, sociology, political history, philosophy, art history, literary studies, and medicine, this comprehensive encyclopedia seeks to discuss the human body in relation to medical traditions, popular culture, and society in general. The multipage essays on individual body parts deliver on these goals. A detailed table of contents spanning both volumes helps orient researchers with listings by body part, internal and external, followed by subtopics ("Scarification" and "Stretch Marks" appear under "Skin," for example). A cross-cultural chronology covers from prehistory to the present. The entries each list print and electronic further reading resources. Most of the articles offer a global perspective, but some are decidedly Western in focus. Though there are many more instances in which anatomical discussions of body parts beg an illustration, only a handful of black-and-white photographs is provided, each well captioned and with sources noted. Some entries, particularly those related to genitalia, are mature in nature and often reference popular media to show cultural relationships. Entries on tattoos, piercings, and fashion will attract recreational readers as well as researchers. A selected bibliography of relevant books and scholarly articles is located at the end of the set, and a detailed cumulative index can be found in the second volume (unfortunately, it does not contain cross-references). This well-written, often advanced work will be highly useful in libraries with strong sociology or popular-culture collections.—Courtney Lewis, Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, Kingston, PA

Gr 9 Up—An expansion and update of a standard reference work (2001). This edition includes a new introduction and a lengthy essay on the history of religion in America, which takes a thematic approach, placing religious movements and subjects into the context of American history. The set has grown from two volumes to three, adding 100 entries for a total of 800. New subjects include Pope John Paul II, L. Ron Hubbard, and megachurches. Entries vary in length, and each one has good cross-references and a short bibliography. The writing is lively and easy to understand; for example, the entry on Cardinal Cushing brings to life a much loved figure of 20th-century Catholicism. Illustrations (though few) are well chosen. A "Synoptic Index" lists all entries on particular religious denominations, and the general index is extensive. This work will add a unique dimension to American history courses, particularly on the AP level, and is sufficiently updated to warrant purchase even in libraries that own the previous edition—Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN

Gr 9 Up—Sparsely illustrated with black-and-white stills, this compendium of the pretty good, the great, and the highly overrated never quite succeeds. The material is arranged chronologically from 1915's Birth of a Nation to 2008's No Country for Old Men and presents not only historical background on each film but also critical assessment that together establish the filmmaker's influences and the impact of the film on society at large. Roman purports to present a selection of "cultural icons that changed 20th- and 21st-century America," a premise that will appeal to students of serious cinema as well as the pop-culturally curious, but they will be disappointed by the weak writing. For example, the article on E.T. describes how "the spaceship has a rendezvous to pick up their misplaced colleague" and in the "Codes of the Old West" entry, the female lead in Dances with Wolves is described as "a white woman captured as a young girl by the Sioux who has attempted suicide." Much of the material here is handled more deftly in Bruce Kawin's A Short History of the Movies, 10th ed. (Longman, 2007).—Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 9 Up—This delightfully comprehensive and user-friendly source features more than 5000 quotations and 200 themes. Selections (and accompanying contextual notes) are listed by theme, then by author. Examples include quips from Oscar Wilde, who remarked that "The play was a great success, but the audience was a total failure" and from Dolly Parton, who said "I'm not offended at all, because I know I'm not a dumb blonde. I also know I'm not blonde." Cross-references appear throughout. The book is fun to simply browse, and users will find the thematic list and the author and keyword indexes (where entries are listed by theme and then quote number) most helpful for research. Purchase for libraries that lack prior editions or comparable sources such as Andrew Martin's Funny You Should Say That (Overlook, 2006).—Cara Moffett, Freelance Reviewer

Gr 9 Up—This wide-ranging work is a cultural history of writing as well as of reading. Volume One, World Literature, is divided by region, with sections on "The Americas" (excluding the United States), "Europe and Britain," "Asia and the Pacific," "South Asia and the Indian Sub-continent," and "Africa and the Middle East." Chapters address literature of countries and eras ("Canada," "The Renaissance"). The second volume, American Literature, covers the United States and the preceding colonies, and includes chapters such as "Reading Slavery and the Civil War" and "Reading in the Twenty-First Century: 2000–2007." Sidebars throughout expand the narrative, providing author biographies, information on reading in various subcultures, and historical notes; and there are occasional black-and-white maps, reproductions, and photographs. Though book-loving browsers will find countless fascinating facts here, the work is best suited to those who need in-depth information on literary works and authors, and those taking Advanced Placement history classes. For example, readers of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children will find an extensive discussion of the genesis and significance of that work in the chapter on the contemporary period in South Asia, and students of the early American colonial period will appreciate "Reading during Settlement and Colonization: 1700–1776," which includes three pages on the literature of the Salem witch hunts. Researchers will be well served by each chapter's lists of recommended reading and of primary and secondary sources (which include print and online materials, some of them scholarly), and the extensive set index in each volume. Well executed, thorough, and enjoyable.—Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal

Gr 6–10—A detailed chronology of more than 400 pages is sandwiched between a concise introduction to the war's historical background and course and a short-entry biographical encyclopedia of major military and civilian figures. The chronology runs from Vietnam's legendary founding in 2879 B.C. to President Clinton's visit in November 2000. Proceeding almost day by day through the conflict, Willbanks splits entries into categories such as "Ground War," "USA—Domestic," and "North Vietnam." In general, the author reports facts in a journalistic style and stays away from editorial comment, though he dubs the 1969 Menu bombings of Cambodia "covert and illegal" and characterizes the My Lai massacre as "the most publicized war atrocity committed by U.S. troops in Vietnam," emphasizing that it wasn't the only one. The biographical sketches cover individuals from President Nixon, Alexander Haig, and Ho Chi Minh to Abbie Hoffman, Eldridge Cleaver, and Walter Cronkite. It's unlikely that the book's audience will make much use of the extensive, small-print bibliography, and the black-and-white photos are both muddy and thinly scattered. However, several maps, a series of statistical tables, and other supplementary material add value to this resource, and the index is sufficiently comprehensive to make up for the lack of cross-references in the main body. Collections that lack Kevin Hillstrom's Vietnam War: Almanac (Gale, 2001) and John S. Bowman's The Vietnam War Almanac (Barnes & Noble, 2005) should consider adding this one to bring this conflict into finer focus than do the general treatments on most libraries' shelves.—John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 2–5—This revision is ideal for answering inquiries on subjects such as states, countries, provinces, world leaders, explorers, inventions, artists, athletes, animals, diseases, battles, and holidays. It is for a younger audience than that for World Book Encyclopedia, and entries are therefore shorter and simpler. Articles added since the 1999 edition include "Blog," "Barack Obama," "Podcast," "Lemony Snicket," and "YouTube." Longer sections address topics from clothing to endangered species and the Olympic Games to the solar system. Many articles include cross-references. More than 3500 rich graphics, photographs, and diagrams, along with 440 maps, complement the articles. Main entries are highlighted in red while subtopics follow in a bold black font. This set will be helpful to students new to independent research.—Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA