Visual Science Encyclopedia

Book by Knapp, Brian J., Grolier Educational (Firm)

Grade 6-10-In each of these thematic volumes (Weather, Water, Heat and Energy, Computers and the Internet, etc.), alphabetically arranged short entries define key concepts. The accompanying full-color photographs or drawings are superlative, both visually and in their usefulness in explaining a concept. Even the extended captions have been clearly written and are not hampered by too many cross-references. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the remainder of the text. The wording of the definitions and the preponderance of bold type result in a scavenger hunt for meaning. Students who already have a solid grounding in the material and are familiar with the language and need quick clarification may find these explanations helpful. Others will be confused or frustrated. Also, there are no pronunciation aids and the indexes are fairly pointless since the entries in the volume are alphabetical and there is no set index. Visually, the books are stunning. The look of the pages is clean and uncluttered despite the many illustrations. However, only libraries serving students who need visual reinforcement and support for their learning will find this a useful acquisition.
Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Intended for elementary- and middle-school students, this set consists of thematic volumes such as "Weather," "Elements," "Light and Sound," "Water," "Plants," "Earth and Space," "Computers and the Internet," among others (but no volumes on the human body or on animals). As the title implies, there is an abundance of full-color photographs and diagrams. Within volumes, entries are in an A-Z arrangement, with cross-references to other terms highlighted in boldface. In general, entries are one- or two-sentence definitions of terms, although some topics (Eye, eyesight; Lava; Petroleum) are treated in greater detail. Because of the brevity of most entries, some may argue this set is more a dictionary than an encyclopedia.

Each volume stands alone, with neither a cumulative set index nor cross-references to topics in other volumes. The volume on weather presents a discussion of El Nino along with maps and an illustration. In the volume on water, El Nino is briefly defined in relationship to ocean currents. The two articles do not present the same information--one claims El Nino occurs "about every four years," while the other states it "happens about once every five years."

This is a useful resource for students seeking quick definitions and clear illustrations that help explain terms, but it is weakened by the lack of integration among volumes. RBB
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