Dictionary of Nature: 101 Nature Experiments

Hundreds of full-color photographs, diagrams, and charts illuminate the definitions of more than two thousand key words pertaining to the natural sciences, arranged thematically and cross-referenced with a substantial biography section and comprehensive index.

Another great Dorling Kindersley book for upper elementary and middle school students, this dictionary covers "2,000 key words arranged thematically." The 14 themes include cells, the chemistry of life, inheritance and genetics, evolution, classifying living things, microorganisms, plant biology, animals, and ecology. "How to Use This Book" clearly explains the use of main headings, the cross-reference symbol and see also box, and the short boxed biographies. Special charts highlight Latin and Greek root words, vitamins and key minerals, and major human hormones. The magnificent color illustrations cover everything from animal and plant cells to molecules, DNA and RNA, carbohydrates, cutaways of an earthworm and a garden snail, and parts of the body. An alphabetical list of famous biologists provides dates, areas of specialization, and one-sentence descriptions of their scientific contributions (or refers readers to a boxed biography). An index lists all main and subentries. For subentries, it gives the main entry under which it appears in parenthesis.

Since much of the information presented here can be found in general encyclopedias and specialized ones such as Popular Science and The World of Science, this source may be best suited to the circulating shelves. Budding scientists will definitely want a copy to check out.