Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations

Gr 6–9—The newest version of this ubiquitous, relentlessly utilitarian encyclopedia records statistical and other changes in the geopolitical world since the 2007 edition. Notably, along with numerous minor tweaks, additions include optimistic new entries for Kosovo, South Sudan, and the Palestinian Territories, plus analyses of the events and effects of the world economic crisis and the Arab Spring through the first quarter of 2012. Presented in a format that Gen-Xers and their Boomer parents will recognize from their school days, the information is gathered beneath numbered headings in rigidly organized, alphabetically arranged "country" articles that are grouped by continent, headed with fast facts, and capped by source notes. The endpapers feature color maps and flags. The separate volume devoted to the U.N. offers lists of countries and proper names. Concise, informative word portraits of each country describe distinctive physical characteristics, populations, history, infrastructure, and (in less detail) cultural highlights. Also, in providing such a thorough study of the U.N. and its work, this resource promotes a supranational point of view more strongly than better-looking but more assignment-oriented encyclopedias such as the The World and Its Peoples sets (Marshall Cavendish). Though the changes in this edition are relatively few, this resource is essential for reference collections that lack sufficient access to online country resources.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City