Reference Review

Gr 9 Up— Encyclopedia is an overview of Earth from its birth to the effects of human habitation, related by explaining physical processes and providing short explanations of specific examples worldwide. Chapters are heavily illustrated spreads, which include—given the book's focus on physical mechanisms—many labeled diagrams. The text covers such a vast number of features that it only provides a little information about each one, but the book will work well as a visual guide, its intended use. Though there is plenty here for high school students, some of the terms reflect the volume's scholarly origins and they are not always included in the glossary. Timeless Earth covers three categories of remarkable locations-"The Natural World," "Human Culture," and "The Modern World." These sections are further subdivided into chapters such as "Ancient Civilizations" and "Eastern Empires" in "Human Culture." Each entry covers a spread and consists mostly of well-captioned visuals. These are complemented by a box detailing the feature's country and its significance and a short, clearly written discussion (somewhat overlapping Encyclopedia) of natural formation, construction, or artistic creation. These visual treats are solid guides to further research. Encyclopedia will find uses in history and social studies classes, while Timeless Earth will work best for earth science students.—Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—These volumes provide clear, concise, and accessible information on a variety of topics. The material in Biology and Chemistry appeared in the publisher's Concise Science Dictionary (2005), but all of the books have been completely revised with hundreds of new entries. Chemistry has 4300 entries and includes physical chemistry, biochemistry, metallurgy, materials science, forensic science, and more. The 5500 entries in Biology touch on such subjects as biophysics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Geology, oceanography, paleontology, planetary sciences, volcanology, and mineralogy are just some of the topics covered in the approximately 6250 entries in Earth Sciences. All of the titles provide information on key individuals, and Biology and Chemistry include feature articles on important topics. Simple black-and-white illustrations and diagrams are scattered throughout each of the cross-referenced volumes. Certain entries in each book offer Web links accessible via a companion site. The appendixes are extensive—Biology's includes "Simplified classification of the animal kingdom" and "Simplified classification of land plants," for example, while Chemistry includes guides to "The Greek alphabet" and "Fundamental constants," and Earth Sciences boasts coverage of "Time-Scales" and "Wind Strength." One quibble: pronunciation guides and word etymology are not provided. Still, these titles are must-haves.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 9 Up—This set employs a broad definition of "icon" and includes real personages, cartoon characters, and Mexican food among the entries. The engaging articles average 20 to 30 pages in length and contain substantive, documented information. Entries are detailed and interesting. For instance, the essay on Sandra Cisneros provides excellent insight into how her childhood feelings of isolation impacted her life and her writing, and how her sense of responsibility to the Latino community affected her work. Subsections focusing on specific literary works will be valuable to students studying her writings. Articles include black-and-white photographs and conclude with a list of suggested additional readings and notes. Though there are only 24 entries in this set, they are much more thorough than the short overviews found in Suzanne Oboler and Deena J. González's The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States (2005).—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA

Gr 9 Up—This well-organized resource covers a wide range of topics relating to medieval society and meshes nicely with standard report needs. Though 71 entries may seem skimpy compared to some encyclopedias, the articles are so in-depth (the shortest is 10 pages long, and most are much longer) that these hefty volumes are almost guaranteed to contain the answer to reference requests about medieval society. Topics include agriculture, calendars and clocks, children, clothing and footwear, death and burial practices, manuscript illumination, inventions, and even scandals and corruption. Each entry begins with an overview, followed by five detailed essays addressing the topic from the viewpoints of the main cultural centers of the era: Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Islamic world. Most entries also contain primary-source excerpts, sidebars, maps, and illustrations. A glossary and comprehensive index add to the ease of use. The writing is clear and straightforward, if a bit dry. A useful and important set.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 8 Up—This in-depth examination of the causes and effects of climate change on the environment is adapted from articles to be included in current and upcoming editions of Compton's Encyclopedia. Climate, ecology, and environmental pollution are the main subjects with each area subdivided into sections including the greenhouse effect, biogeography, endangered species, and environmentalism. Contributors are top professionals in their field. Sidebars add information on topics ranging from saving the giant panda to notable environmentalists. Students who use encyclopedias will find the format and look of this volume familiar. The colorful, labeled graphics and illustrations are effective but do not overwhelm the wealth of information provided in the (small-print) text. The scope is international and the message regarding the urgent need for change in environmental policy and commitment is delivered with scientific detachment. An excellent source for students requiring more than a cursory examination of the subject.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive time line begins with the human settlement of North America and ends with the closing days of 2007. Most of its nearly 8000 entries are a summary sentence or two, but some subjects are given a few paragraphs. Each entry is preceded by a topical subject heading in bold such as "Politics," "Science," "Military," "Economics," "Sports," or "Communication." The chronology is supplemented by more than 400 single-page biographical sketches of political and military figures, authors, athletes, scientists, and minority leaders. There are also more than 200 black-and-white reproductions of period illustrations and photographs, and each volume includes a well-chosen selection of maps. Although this work provides a day-to-day account of this country's past, the chronology is not cross-referenced, making it difficult for users to follow events, such as the establishment of Texas as an independent nation, Prohibition, and the Watergate scandal, that unfolded over a series of months or years. That problem is compounded by the indexing, which does not subcategorize those events. This is an attractive set but the aforementioned difficulties will significantly limit student use.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 10 Up—This volume examines its subject in detail through both narrative description and definitive documents. Included is information on the background, history, powers, roles, procedures, and structure of Congress. A long section profiles important legislators, and two chapters deal with the politics of the institution, both internal and in its interactions with the other branches of government. There is a significant glossary, and nearly half the volume consists of primary-source documents, from John Adams's "Thoughts on Government (1776)" through the "Iraq War Resolution (2002)." Further-reading suggestions appear at the end of each chapter and in an annotated list at the end of the book. This readable volume will be valuable for reports on American history and government, and will be a useful supplement to Congress A to Z (CQ, 2008).—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

Gr 10 Up—The 257 articles in this set were taken from Gerstenfeld's Criminal Justice (Salem, 2006) and represent about half the content of that set. Basic information about four core aspects of criminal law—criminals and crime, law enforcement, prosecution and trials, and punishment—is provided. Topics range from the processes of criminal procedure such as arrest, bail, and trial to precise definitions of crimes and how punishments are determined. Articles run from a few paragraphs to several pages, and each one begins with a definition, the significance of the topic, and a listing of subtopics covered in the entry. The ensuing objective discussion includes historical background, often with explanations of connections to British or American common law, relevant case law, and court decisions, as well as current law and practice. Each article also includes cross-references and suggestions for further reading, many of which have been updated since the articles were originally published. The text is supplemented with average-quality black-and-white photos and a variety of maps, graphs, charts, tables, and sidebars, and a comprehensive index. This set differs from Carl Sifakis's The Encyclopedia of American Crime (Facts On File, 2000), which focuses on famous crimes and criminals. It is a good additional choice for libraries that need information about the background and operation of the criminal justice system.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 9 Up—Hill fuses a chronological, political, and social history of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal with an environmental history of the area. Although the environment is key to the presentation, it is the historical outline from the Indus civilization through independence that occupies the greater part of this work. A pervading theme is the arrogance and greed of the Mughal and British empires, both of which sought to control water and forests for their own benefit, with catastrophic consequences. However, overpopulation and population control are barely mentioned, and damage caused by the contemporary increase in the use and manufacture of automobiles in India is not discussed. The work concludes with several case studies of environmental policies through Indian history and an alphabetical list of people, events, and concepts. The latter and the glossary often overlap, and both contain entries that are missing from the incomplete index. The bibliographic essay and lengthy bibliography are useful, but the few Web sites listed provide only the most basic home-page information, leaving visitors to navigate the site once they arrive. The black-and-white illustrations are unclear and often uninformative and there are too few maps. This work is useful primarily as a general history of the countries and for presenting the influence of the environment on history. It is, however, less useful as a source on the region's environment.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Gr 7 Up—This attractive survey of world art offers profusely illustrated chapters covering the major schools, styles, and specific regions, with sidebars that earmark specific artists, works of art, movements, and techniques, or note "Connections" (historical and cultural). Each volume covers an era or a century and includes a chronology and a glossary of specialized terms. In addition, occasional cross-references along the bottom of pages indicate related topics within the volume. Volume eight includes a set index and an index of artists and their works. The writing is clear and concise, often incorporating vivid detail, such as that found in an explanation of the materials used to create prehistoric paintbrushes. The reproductions of artworks are generally of high quality, but occasionally (e.g., the reproductions of Michelangelo's The Last Judgment and Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night) the tones are not true to the originals. As with any survey, many of the expected masterpieces are included; others are notably absent. For instance, while there is a two-column entry on (and photo of) Marc Chagall, there are no reproductions of his works. Similarly, the "characteristic product of Navajo weaving…known as the eye-dazzler,'" is discussed, but the complex pattern is never shown. Nevertheless, the works that are included provide a fine introduction to art history. Although its coverage of non-Western art is not extensive, this set examines topics not included in Anthony F. Janson's History of Art for Young People (Prentice Hall, 2003).—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI

Gr 10 Up—A chronology of legal milestones, 510 B.C.E. to C.E. 2003, is just the beginning of this finely crafted volume that describes how the U.S. Constitution continues to shape the laws and lives of our citizenry. The alphabetically arranged entries cover a wide variety of topics such as abortion, the electoral college, gun control, minorities, religion, slavery, and the Watergate scandal. Many specific Supreme Court cases and their ramifications are explained; updates include developments relating to the September 11th attacks and gay marriage. "Framers of the Constitution" features a state-by-state biography of each contributor. Extensive cross-references take the form of "More on this topic" boxes, and "see" entries, both in-text and following articles. Quotation and "Closer Look" sidebars add information and insight to the text, which is also enhanced by well-captioned black-and-white photographs, tables, and a few graphs. The encyclopedia section is followed by a collection of primary sources—the First Charter of Virginia, the Mayflower Compact, the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the State of Delaware—many of which might be found in a variety of scattered resources, but this volume provides one convenient location. This excellent title also boasts a table of Supreme Court cases and an extensive index. Though the opening chronology is not as up-to-date as it might be, this work is a must for any library supporting an American Government class.—Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS

Gr 10 Up—Acknowledging that a number of stereotypes and other beliefs surround women in science, this book explores those ideas in relationship to particular topics. A decidedly Western emphasis permeates the book, which is divided into two parts, each with individually authored entries. The chronological section examines broad eras (e.g. antiquity, the 18th century), sometimes focusing on research regarding gender in those periods, and in other articles expanding on female contributions to science. A much longer thematic section covers specific scientific disciplines, institutions, or philosophies (such as "ecofeminism"). Each entry ends with a comprehensive list of references and further reading, comprising both seminal works and recent scholarship. The black-and-white images are infrequent, but when present are well captioned and positioned near relevant text. Some entries from the thematic second section contain substantial biographical content and will be helpful for papers on individual women. An extensive appendix comprised of statistical tables covers high school, SAT, and college data regarding female participation in mathematics and the sciences will be invaluable for debates or persuasive essays.—Courtney Lewis, Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, Kingston, PA

Gr 9 Up—The more than 700 memoirs, biographies, poems, plays, speeches, and works of short fiction discussed here include works by Sherman Alexie, Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros, Amy Tan, and numerous others. Major American ethnic groups are represented, as are 93 women, in coverage that ranges from the Harlem Renaissance to the present. Revisions since the 2000 edition include an additional 89 authors and 493 works, and updating of existing information. Each entry is followed by a generous further-reading list (for a total of 1500 recommendations in the set), and most entries include a black-and-white author photograph. Because the revisions are extensive, this set should be considered for purchase, even by libraries that own the earlier edition. However, those that own Emmanuel S. Nelson's The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature (2005), which has similar content, will not need it.—Cara Moffett, Freelance Reviewer

Gr 9 Up—These essays first appeared in Carl L. Bankston's Notorious Lives (Salem, 2007), but several of the entries have been updated. The concise biographies of 177 disreputable Americans begin with essential background and then describe the subjects' criminal activities; punishment, if any; and lasting effect. An immense variety of wrongdoings is addressed in the profiles, which cover individuals from the 18th century to today. Subjects include Richard Girnt Butler, official spokesperson for the Aryan Nations; pirate Rachel Wall; mafia leader Frank Costello; and such well-known figures as Benedict Arnold, John Wilkes Booth, Al Capone, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and Jeffrey Dahmer. Black-and-white photographs and primary-source excerpts accompany many entries. Back matter includes an annotated Web site list and a chronological listing of entries. This diverse set will supplement research in areas of history, psychology, sociology, law, and criminal justice.—Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA

Gr 4–6—Technically, this is not an encyclopedia but rather, as the back cover states, "an illustrated introduction to the beliefs, traditions and practices of the Christian faith." Instead of alphabetical entries, its 57 chapters are organized by themes such as "The Origins of Christianity," "Christian Teachings," "The Church," and "Worship." This is a beautiful production, appealing and attractive, with numerous color photos, maps, and graphs. However, there is no glossary, the time line is limited, and the index is incomplete. The book's British origins are apparent in spellings. There are only a couple of sentences on selected Protestant denominations, but Self discusses Christianity around the world and tackles issues such as suffering, war, and the environment. No other titles for this age come close to this work's appeal or thoroughness.—Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr 9 Up—In this first volume in a four-part series, three intriguing opening essays address the role of political parties, the electoral college/popular vote debate, and "Majority Rule vs. Minority Rights." The 153 entries mostly cover presidential elections from 1789 to 2004, and also provide substantial information related to the electoral process; followed by cross-references and further-reading suggestions. Boxed extras include "Point/Counterpoint," "Document Based Question," and "Decision Makers." The last section offers political cartoons, original speeches, amendments, and other primary resources, as well as helpful research guidelines. Informative black-and-white charts, graphs, tables, maps, and photos are included throughout. This clearly written, well-organized work is a one-stop source that will support the American government curriculum.—Cara Moffett, Freelance Reviewer

Gr 7 Up—This engaging, well-written set masterfully chronicles world history from 500 C.E. to the present, with a particular emphasis on how changes throughout the years helped shape contemporary society. The short articles cover topics such as daily life, religion, economy, warfare, government, art and literature, historical events and movements, and technology. Cross-references and a further-reading list are appended to each piece, and maps, time lines, and illustrations expand the work's usefulness. Instructive half- to three-quarter-page extras are included—for example, "Turning Points" introduce cultural and political changes that indelibly shaped society, "Great Lives" profile individuals whose accomplishments were revolutionary; and "Into the 21st Century" entries explain how key events paved the way for developments now and in the future. Compared to the relevant books in the "Lucent Library of Historical Eras" series (Lucent), this set has a stronger emphasis on the events that shaped modern times and that will affect the future.—Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library

Gr 5 Up—Coverage in these 12 chapters includes cowboys, Native Americans, gunfighters, railroads, women, and the Old West in popular culture, including movies and toys, illustrating Wexler's assertion that "…the West has also permeated the very fabric of American life." Abundant color photographs and illustrations include copious photographs of guns. However, the photographs are not sourced and many of them are undated. There is heavy emphasis on the book comprising a "virtual tour" of the West from 1800 to 1900, but the author does not define the boundaries of the region. He makes reference to the West as "an untamed landscape," but not every group might agree with that assessment. There are typos such as "Lost" Angeles, and use of the word "colored." The main problem, however, is that the lack of a bibliography negates the use of this book as a reference tool.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL