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BANE, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. 199p. bibliog. index. CIP. McFarland. 2010. PLB $75. ISBN 978-0-7864-4452-6. LC 2010015576. Gr 9 Up–A self-proclaimed vampirologist (who doesn’t believe in the creatures) covers diverse beliefs about vampires and their origins, from early accounts through to myths that persist today. Species such as Aluka, Gaki, Ramanga, and Zemu appear in the more than 600 authoritative and clearly written A-Z entries, many of which close with source material and cross-references. Many vampire types are not included, for instance fictional (author-created) or cryptozoological (legendary animal) creatures. As this encyclopedia is limited in coverage to mythology (no mentions of Twilight here), it will appeal primarily to readers intrigued with the broader topic of vampires.–Cara Moffett, formerly at Cumberland University Vise Library, Lebanon, TN BURNIE, David. The Kingfisher Nature Encyclopedia. rev. ed. 320p. charts. diags. maps. photos. glossary. index. Websites. Kingfisher. 2010. Tr $27.99. ISBN 978-0-7534-6503-5. LC number unavailable. Gr 4-7–Published with only minor changes, such as an updated short list of recommended websites, this reprint (Kingfisher, 2004) is still a fine choice for nurturing an interest in the natural world. Organized into three sections–the first on our planet’s origin and the evolution of life, the second surveying the five biotic kingdoms, the third taking closer looks at 14 biomes (including “Towns and Cities”)–each spread offers a topical discussion that ranges in scope from “Seasons and Weather” or “How Fungi Feed” to “Protozoans” and “Tropical Forests.” Color photos on every page add visual interest while playing supporting roles to information presented in captions and columns of lucid, not heavily technical narrative text. Despite the pleasantly extensive index, this is a first-rate overview of its topic rather than a resource for quick reference or assignment-driven research.–John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library FRANCIS, J. Michael, ed. Encyclopedia of Latin America. 4 vols. 1589p. illus. maps. photos. reprods. appendix. further reading. glossary. index. CIP. Facts On File. 2010. PLB $360. ISBN 978-0-8160-7359-7. LC 2009014594. Gr 9 Up–Each volume covers one broad time period and is organized alphabetically. Separate articles about Mexico, for example, appear in three volumes, each focusing on events in that country during the relevant era. With more than 1000 articles, including 300-plus biographical entries, coverage is fairly comprehensive and quite current, discussing such recent events as Fidel Castro’s 2008 resignation. Access is aided by the detailed cumulative index in volume four. Capitalized terms within articles refer readers to related articles within the same volume. Each book closes with a lengthy collection of primary-source documents–some excerpts, others complete–including laws, reports, and letters. These are indexed, but not referenced in the related articles, so students can read the article about Santa Anna but miss the relevant excerpt from his memoir. Though clear and generally concise, the text is fairly sophisticated. Illustrations, mostly black-and-white photos or reproductions of artwork depicting people and places, are featured in some articles. Jay Kinsbruner’s The Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (Gale, 2008) is fairly similar in scope and reading level.–Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR GANTT, Patricia M., ed., et al. Student’s Encyclopedia of Great American Writers. 5 vols. 2240p. appendix. bibliog. further reading. Websites. CIP. Facts On File. 2010. PLB $425. ISBN 978-0-8160-6087-0. LC 2009030783. Gr 9 Up–More than 180 writers currently studied are profiled in this set. Arranged chronologically, the volumes begin with colonists such as Anne Bradstreet and revolutionary writers such as Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. Subsequent volumes feature both canonical figures identified with America’s literary movements and lesser-known writers gaining public and scholarly interest. Each volume, or time period, opens with a historical review of the featured literary era. Volume 2 covers the American culture between 1830 and 1900 with authors such as Stephen Crane, Emily Dickinson, and the oft-neglected African-American writers Charles Waddell Chesnutt and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Defined as a period of civil unrest, 1945-1970 (Volume 4) is typical in its variety, featuring poets such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Elizabeth Bishop, novelists such as Harper Lee, and Civil Rights Leader and theologian Martin Luther King, Jr. Biographical information sets the stage for analyses of the individual works. A tidbit such as Cormac McCarthy coming out of seclusion to appear on Oprah includes a link to the interview that propelled his dystopian novel, The Road, toward phenomenal sales. Each analysis is followed by questions. While there is no general index, individual volumes contain a list of writers and works included and an appendix of authors listed chronologically and alphabetically. This title stands out for its recognition and inclusion of a large number of female writers and writers of a variety of ethnicities.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY HAMILTON, Neil A. Scientific Exploration and Expeditions: From the Age of Discovery to the Twenty-First Century. 2 vols . 400p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Websites. CIP. Sharpe Reference. 2010. PLB $165. ISBN 978-0-7656-8076-1. LC 010012118. Gr 6-9–Hamilton’s 115 entries in this set describe the courses and discoveries of significant scientific expeditions from the early 15th century to mid 2009. Chapters range in content from “Discovery, Age of” to “Maps and Mapmaking.” Along with describing the accomplishments of, for example, Charles Darwin, Neil Armstrong, and Heinrich Schliemann, the author discusses the work of the Leakey family, the lesser-known journeys of explorers such as Mary Kingsley and Mexican-American botanist Ynes Mexia, and the spectacular if sometimes stuntlike adventures of Richard Francis Burton, Thor Heyerdahl, and Robert Ballard. Each chapter opens with a time line and closes with a brief further-reading list. Many also feature a relevant side essay, “see” references, and one or more small, muddy black-and-white prints or photos. The prose is as staid as the book design, but aside from occasional slips (such as a bald claim that Burton “discovers Lake Tanganyika”), the presentations are systematic, carefully detailed, not exclusively Eurocentric, and when appropriate, skeptical. The currency of information and focus on science will make this work particularly useful alongside such broader but more dated resources as Peggy Saari and Daniel B. Baker’s multivolume Explorers and Discoverers from Alexander the Great to Sally Ride (1995, UXL).–John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library NEWTON, David E. Substance Abuse: A Reference Handbook. 298p. (Contemporary World Issues Series). diags. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Websites. CIP. ABC-CLIO. 2010. Tr $55. ISBN 978-1-59884-509-9. LC 2010007451. Gr 9 Up–A comprehensive look at the physical, historical, cultural, and legal aspects of drug use including information regarding drug regulations in foreign countries and the drug culture in the United States. Chapters include “Background and History” (offering a survey of legal and illegal substances); “Problems, Controversies, and Solutions” (testing, legalization, etc.); “Worldwide Perspective”; and a “Chronology,” “Directory of Organizations” (with descriptions and web addresses), and annotated lists of additional print and online resources. Of the 21 biographical sketches, two thirds of the subjects featured are American. “Data and Documents” and other chapters include charts and tables with statistics, the most recent of which date from 2008. A glossary and serviceable index are included. In-text citations with complete reference lists at the end of each chapter make this a valuable resource for those researching or debating drug-, alcohol-, and tobacco-related topics.–Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA NOLAN, Cathal J. The Concise Encyclopedia of World War II. 2 vols. 1000p. maps. bibliog. index. CIP. Greenwood. 2010. Tr $195. ISBN 978-0-313-33050-6. LC 2009036965. Gr 7 Up-This rigorous A-Z set will be valuable for defining vocabulary such as “friendly fire” or “leaflet bombing,” and identifying people, places, tactics, and campaigns. Included are numerous Russian, Japanese, and German terms such as “Wunderwaffen” (wonder weapons), and “Kotel” (a battle of encirclement). Entries vary in length, from mere definitions to 17 pages (on Adolf Hitler), and are often followed up with “see” or “see-also” references and additional reading suggestions. Appended is an extensive bibliography and a general index with careful cross-referencing and bold main entry notations. There are no illustrations. A first stop for researchers.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia Jr. Sr. High School, NY HROBERTS, Alice. The Complete Human Body: The Definitive Visual Guide. 512p. w/CD. charts. diags. photos. glossary. index. DK. 2010. Tr $50. ISBN 978-0-7566-6733-7. LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up–Incorporating hundreds of stunning images and a clearly written text, Roberts’s hefty volume begins with an overview of the body covering such topics as human evolution, the human genetic formula, the cell, and body composition. It then moves on to systems, devoting most of its pages to an atlas of human anatomy. Starting from the head and neck and ending at the lower leg and foot, this section illustrates seven regions of the body, primarily employing computer-generated illustrations, but also incorporating cutaway diagrams and clear photos and microscopic and x-ray images. For each designated section of the body, double-page renderings of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, and lymphatic and immune systems are presented, each clearly introduced and extensively labeled. The extraordinary detail of these pictures will give students an excellent understanding of the body’s structure and organization, depicting, layer by layer, the organs that are normally “packed closely together and nestled into cavities, with nerves and vessels twisting around....” Other sections focus on “How the Body Works,” “Life Cycle,” and “Diseases and Disorders,” offering the same graphic detail. There’s more text in these chapters, which devote two pages each to a multitude of topics (“Nerve Cells,” “Taste and Smell,” “Blood Cells”); the images are smaller, but well chosen and more numerous. The DVD offers a selection of pictures from the book. While not all libraries may need such extensive mapping of the human body–Steve Parker’s The Human Body (DK, 2007) may suffice for many–there is nothing that rivals Roberts’s singular volume.–Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal STOYLES, Pennie. The A-Z of Health: Volume 1 A-B. map. ISBN 978-1-59920-541-0. –––– . The A-Z of Health: Volume 2 C-E. ISBN 978-1-59920-542-7. –––– . The A-Z of Health: Volume 3 F-J. map. ISBN 978-1-59920-543-4. –––– . The A-Z of Health: Volume 4 K-O. map. ISBN 978-1-59920-544-1. –––– . The A-Z of Health: Volume 5 P-S. ISBN 978-1-59920-545-8. –––– . The A-Z of Health: Volume 6 T-Z. map. ISBN 978-1-59920-546-5. ea vol: 32p. (The A-Z of Health Series). diags. photos. glossary. index. CIP. Smart Apple Media. 2010. PLB $28.50. LC 2009038467. Gr 3-6–Each two-page entry includes a definition and three or four paragraphs of text on causes, symptoms, cures, etc., related to physical or mental health. “Did You Know?” facts are highlighted, as is occasional “First Aid” advice. A glossary of three to five terms appears at the end of each entry; these words are defined again if they appear in subsequent articles. However, there is no cross-referencing, so even though “Diabetes” gets its own entry in volume two, a mention of it in volume four, under “Kidneys,” is not noted. Likewise, there is no cumulative index for the six volumes; each book has its own. Some oddities, like “Jet Lag” and “Zoonoses,” are included alongside conditions or ailments that readers are likely to have experienced. Common myths are debunked. The clean layout, the use of a variety of fonts, and larger-than-average print size make for easy reading. Full-color, captioned photographs (including some microscopic and stock images) and labeled diagrams, which lean more toward the clinical than the gross, illustrate the entries. While this set won’t serve researchers, it will answer some basic questions.–Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA WARF, Barney, ed. Encyclopedia of Geography. 6 vols. 3398p. charts. diags. maps. photos. further reading. index. CIP. Sage. 2010. RTE $805. ISBN 978-1-4129-5697-0. LC 2010009453. Gr 10 Up–The scholarly introduction to this wide-ranging set explains that “geography today has experienced a renaissance that has made it increasingly interesting to nongeographers.” The coverage (outlined in a helpful reader’s guide in volume one) illustrates why; the more than 1200 entries range in topic from the geography of children to electronic atlases and primate cities. The expected coverage is provided too, in entries addressing economic geography, soil erosion, and figures such as medieval geographer al-Idrisi. Entries close with cross references and often-generous print and online further-reading lists. Volume 6 boasts an 18-page atlas that includes crisp political maps of the world and the continents, a topographical map of the world, and a spread discussing and illustrating, in rich color, various world-map projections. Scholarly language and material can be an issue, and access is hampered by the absence of an index until the extremely detailed set index in volume six. Still, advanced students of geography and other areas of social science will overlook these problems, and will appreciate the work’s thoroughness and its plentiful statistics, and color charts, photographs, and, of course, maps.–Henrietta Thornton-Verma, School Library Journal
