Visual Science Encyclopedia

School Library Journal

Gr 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.