This enhanced and completely updated edition of our award-winning and best-selling world atlas for middle-grade readers stands in a class by itself! Sparkling throughout with state-of-the-art political, physical, and thematic maps plus full-color photo essays and images from space, this engaging resource features the latest boundary and place-name changes as well as updated statistical data. A brand-new, 16-page chapter on Earth’s oceans includes detailed maps of each ocean floor and photo essays on topics ranging from amazing sea creatures to El Niño. The section of world thematic maps contains new graphics and information, including a spread on world economy and trade. Locator globes and color coding help young readers find what they need and make easy comparisons, while fact boxes, charts, geographic superlatives, national flags, a glossary, and a detailed index further enhance the book’s reference value and appeal.
Grade 4-8-This new edition of an essential resource incorporates the latest global changes in place-names, boundaries, and statistics. Though the general appearance, at first glance, seems nearly identical to the 1998 edition, a careful look reveals that many explanations have been rewritten in clearer language or lengthened. Likewise, the majority of striking color photos remains intact, though new images and captions have been added. In the first section, "The World," new spreads on "People" and "World Economies" have replaced "Population Density" and "Transportation and Communication." Continent fact boxes reflect population shifts and changes in life expectancy. (Somewhat puzzling is the fact that the area of the U.S. seems to have increased by nearly 100,000 square miles in the past five years.) There are several new or updated country flags. The most striking addition, however, is the 14-page section on the world's oceans, which begins with marine life, followed by a fascinating discussion of the challenges of mapping the ocean floor. Another spread likens the ocean to "the Earth's radiator," explaining how it warms and controls climate. The oversized, attractive layout and engaging, easy-to-read text make this the clear choice for reference collections.
Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public SchoolsCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Introductory material is one of the strong points in this atlas. Twenty-five thematic maps show climate, vegetation, population density, endangered species, world economies, and more. There is also a good explanation of the types of maps and how to read a map. The^B section for each continent starts with a physical and a political map; sandwiched between are four pages of color photos. Regions or countries are divided into 32 separate maps that show 20 political and physical features plus icons for crops, industries, and other aspects of the economy.^B Maps are generally large and very easy to read, although in some cases--Western Europe, for example--18 countries are crowded onto a single map and some information is lost in the gutter. Each map is accompanied by flags and facts about each country's area, population, capital, and chief language. The 8 U.S. maps come with similar information for the states. An impressive 15-page section on oceans follows the sections on the continents.
RBB
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