Picturepedia

Gr 4–7—This volume is a playful compendium of facts, trivia, and history, just perfect for browsing. It covers everything from national flags and animal skeletons to gourmet cheese, from the Renaissance to fashion through the decades to just about everything else in between. There's no in-depth discussion in this book, which is touted as "an encyclopedia on every page," but it is copiously and colorfully illustrated, making it an attractive selection for fans of the DK single topic books. The 360 pages make for one heavy book—and its size may deter some younger readers and browsers. Like other DK offerings, it's thoughtfully laid out, with clean page layouts and excellent photos and indexing. But those looking for more information on individual topics won't find it here; rather, it's an ideal book for those looking to kill time in study hall or find a fresh topic for a term paper.