Eencyclopedia : The Ultimate Online Learning Resource

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Two powerhouses that specialize in reference and information -- DK, with its well-known line of nonfiction books, and Google, the Internet search engine -- combine efforts to introduce this awe-inspiring encyclopedia that makes fact finding a multimedia experience. Beginning with the book itself: The e.encyclopedia stands at a whopping 448 pages and includes over 600 subjects, such as space, the human body, society and beliefs, and history. Each subtopic gets one page in the book, dynamically laid out in a mainly question-and-answer format with bright photos, maps, and fact boxes to make it eye-catching and simple to use. If that's not enough, readers can go to a special e.encyclopedia web site developed by the two partners, allowing them to type in keywords -- almost every topic in the book has one keyword -- that call up other, approved web sites that discuss the topic even further, as well as free images to download and print from DK's vast image collection. With so many resources at their fingertips, kids won't have trouble getting their homework finished or navigating the Internet, while parents can rest assured that DK and Google have linked to the best, safest sites possible (there's even a "useful information for online researchers" box that includes links for Internet safety and choosing the right site). This is one reference tool that wonderfully harnesses the vast array of information out there and makes it accessible, wieldy, and a blast to find. Matt Warner

Publishers Weekly

Drawing on the ever-growing role of the Internet in providing research material for students, DK and Google have teamed up for the innovative e.encyclopedia, an encyclopedia and an accompanying Web site that together provide information on 600 subject areas. The book itself, laid out with the trademark DK design (clear photographs, bite-size information outlined in boxes or used as captions), is a comprehensive, photo-filled resource with sections on every major subject area: science, nature, history, culture, etc. Readers can enter highlighted keywords (enclosed within a consistent design element, an "E-Link" symbol) throughout the encyclopedia-such as "Jupiter" or "habitats" or "painting"-into the dedicated Web site to link to age-appropriate sites with related information, video clips and more. A note to parents explains that, while the carefully chosen sites are independent of Google and DK, these recommended links are regularly reviewed and updated. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

The information in this encyclopedia is grouped into thematic sections, which are color-coded. The nine sections include discussions about space, earth, nature, the human body, science and technology, people and places, society and beliefs, arts and entertainment and history which is the most extensive section. An opening spread explains how to use the book and the web site created by DK and Google. While the articles in the encyclopedia provide plenty of facts, the added bonus is going to the special website where you can enter the keyword show on the topic page. This will offer many expanded features about the specific subject. Please note that even without these links the book is still an excellent reference book. Since the links are regularly reviewed and updated one can only assume that the Mars link will now include pictures and information from the latest devises that have landed to explore the plant. The text font is small and illustrations are plentiful and given the publisher, the quality is outstanding. This is a reference book appropriate for any school or home library and one that will get lots of use for homework assignments. As a reviewer, I could only read and spend time on certain sections, but it is the type of book I could spend days reading and many more exploring the online resources. 2003, DK Publishing, Ages 10 up.
— Marilyn Courtot

Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Developed in collaboration with Google, this resource combines a single-volume general encyclopedia with an associated Web site stocked-thinly-with links and clip art. Gathered into nine wide categories, from "History" and "Space" to "Arts and Entertainment," information is presented in flashy topical segments, usually several per spread, that mix sharp color photos with explanatory captions and captionlike blocks of text. Cross-references at the bottom of each page supplement a generous index to make that information easy to access. That ease is compromised on the Web site, which is hung about with parental caveats and other child-safety elements. Users can either click to a limited selection of photos or the "Kids and Teens" version of Google's directory, or enter a designated topic word from the book to reach a very brief list of outside links. At the time of writing, "Philosophy," for instance, yielded one brief essay on Ren Descartes. Though the book contains some factual errors, such as the assertion that life on Earth cannot exist without sunlight, and elaborately highlighted special terms for which no glossary is supplied, it does merit consideration as an update for similar but older titles. Judy Tatchell's The Usborne Internet-Linked Science Encyclopedia (Usborne, 2001) and its series mates, though more specialized in scope, are better-designed Web/print hybrids.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.