THE KINGFISHER CHILDREN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA

Gr 3–8—The colorful entries in this update range from one to four pages in length each, feature full-color illustrations and photos and subheadings in a large, easy-to-read font and sidebars and fact boxes of thought-provoking information. For instance, the three-page entry on dinosaurs includes 10 subheadings ranging from "Lizard or Birdlike" to "Death of the Reptiles." An accompanying illustration features a comparison between a Tyrannosaurus Rex footprint and that of a man, and a fact box suggests that, "Dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded like mammals and birds." Other topics include continents and countries, technology, transportation, animal and plant life, religion, and space. Appendixes include a political map of the world; one- to two-sentence biographical summaries of artists, writers, musicians, scientists, inventors, philosophers, and explorers; and U.S. state and presidential statistics. Extensive updating in this edition reflects recent history and developments in science and technology. Libraries in need of a one-volume general reference for children (except report-writers looking for biographical information) should consider this offering. It will help them choose and narrow topics, and will appeal to browsers.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools