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School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Like DK's Ultimate Visual Dictionary (1998), much of this title is a compilation of several previously published volumes. The Visual Dictionary of Physics (1995), The Visual Dictionary of Chemistry (1996), and The Visual Dictionary of Human Anatomy (1996, all DK) have been virtually reprinted page by page, illustration by illustration, and shrunk to fit a smaller format. Nowhere in the book is this fact mentioned. Other sections include medical science, life sciences and ecology, earth sciences, astronomy and astrophysics, electronics and computer science, and mathematics. Here, the information has been synthesized from earlier books and updated. The life-sciences section includes some nifty diagrams of arthropods, sponges, and plants. In the electronics section, there are diagrams of transformers, conductors and semiconductors, etc. "Mathematics" includes brief cogent descriptions of coordinates and triangles, probability, logic, and other functions, with lots of clear, understandable diagrams. As none of the information is laid out in dictionary format, it is often necessary to consult the index. Useful data such as physics formulas are at the end of the book along with a glossary, an index, and a short biographical list of scientists. If you don't already have the topical visual dictionaries in your collection, this is a relatively inexpensive way to get all three plus other useful information.-Jo-Anne Weinberg, Greenburgh Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
DK has a reputation for putting information in a format that is visually pleasing, textually accurate, and terse. They have done it again with these one-volume encyclopedias. Within each encyclopedia, each section begins with a short introduction to the subject and then, using illustrations and short paragraphs, goes into more detail to explain specific topics. Cross-references lead to entries on related subjects. Generally, each topic is covered on a double-page spread, half of which is illustration (labeled photographs and diagrams). The typefaces vary in size: the first paragraph is larger, the text slightly smaller, the captions smaller still. A glossary and index complete each volume. Sections are broad in scope. In DK Nature Encyclopedia, the "How Living Things Work" section begins with the cell and covers photosynthesis, respiration, and reproduction. Also covered are growth and development, movement, communication, and migration. The ecology section covers every type of ecosystem and discusses the relationship between humans and nature. The plant and animal chapters include information on every major plant and animal group. Librarians are often hard pressed to locate an easy-to-understand explanation of scientific classification--the presentation in this encyclopedia is excellent. It begins with one animal and moves up the classification ladder by showing how more and more species are included. Subsequent pages discuss each group in more detail, and many entries have "profile" boxes highlighting a particular species of animal or plant from the group. The DK Science Encyclopedia is a revised version of Dorling Kindersley Science Encyclopedia [RBB D 1 93]. It features more than 280 main entries and 1,900 subentries grouped under subjects such as matter, materials, weather, and space. The section on space has been updated to include information on Voyager 1 and 2, although "Using Computers" contains nothing about the World Wide Web. A "Factfinder" section has charts, tables, and maps. DK Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science covers just about every major concept and historical development in science. It is divided into chapters that cover nine broad areas of science, such as physics, life sciences, and medical science. Each chapter begins with a table of contents that lists the topics covered, followed by a history of their development and a time line of important discoveries. The chapters range in length from 18 pages ("Mathematics") to 58 pages ("Life Sciences and Ecology"). A "Useful Data" section has such information as units of measurement and physics formulas. A four-page "Biographies" section has very brief biographical profiles; no women are mentioned, not even Nobel Prize winners such as Barbara McClintock. The illustrations are beautifully reproduced and meticulously labeled; of particular note are the illustrations of wave behavior, the functional areas of the brain, and stellar life cycles. The photographs of ancient/historical items are fascinating and add to the wonder of our modern methods. The time lines will be a boon to students who are often assigned time-line projects. The three titles cover many of the same topics but use completely different text and illustrations. One of the chief differences is the way in which content is organized. Ultimate Visual is arranged by scientific discipline, while Nature and Science take a less academic approach, grouping topics under broad categories likely to be of interest to younger readers--weather, how living things work. Ultimate Visual often presents information in a way that is more complex and detailed. Nature and Science each cover animal classification in two pages, but Ultimate Visual covers it in four, relying less on illustrations and more on tables. Cross-references in Ultimate Visual appear in bold type within the text, instead of in separate "find out more" boxes. Nature and Science are designed for children ages eight and up, but, as in other DK publications, the page layout, small print, and vocabulary level may make them confusing and difficult for younger readers. Both are suitable for upper-elementary and middle-school children and will serve as good beginning points for more in-depth research. Ultimate Visual will be infinitely useful to older students and adults who want a detailed overview of science.
