Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia

Gr 5–8—Heavy as can be, this eighth edition has more heft than substance. But in fairness, this work was never intended to be all-encompassing. Browsability and scope are its forte; it includes basic topics of interest to most middle graders, such as skeletons, oceans, sports, and animals, as well as heavier topics like Hinduism, the Industrial Revolution, and the history of Europe. Even more obscure entries, such as the Habsburgs sneak in. DK's strength has always been its famous scannable and illustration-laden pages; this one is no different, containing more than 3,000 photos and illustrations, maps, graphs, lists, and charts. Each one- to two-page entry is quickly accessible, with a "Find Out More" blurb with related topics for those who want to dig deeper. Older middle schoolers will find this a great source for trivia on popular subjects or for piquing their interest into new areas of exploration. It might suffice as a beginning source for learning more about a research topic. A well-done index and gazetteer at the back elevate the reference factor.