E-encyclopedia

October 20, 2003
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.

February 15, 2004
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 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2004
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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.