The Usborne living world encyclopedia

Nearly 7" by 6", this miniature edition of the original is just the right size to introduce a young student to theme related encyclopedias. You could even slip it into your child's lunch pack, and there will still be room for food. I've had both sizes in my hands, and this one rises to the top because of its uniqueness in size and topic. This book contains a one page table of contents, a 3 page glossary explaining specific terms, and an index of 8 pages. The pictures are graphics, not photos, but your daughter or son will enjoy the multiple ways of finding out information; so, if the table of contents is too broad, the index in the back will help narrow down the many topics related to evergreen forests, tropical rainforests, and how animals survive in their day to day activities. Looking at "forests" in the index will yield several possible topics for further looking: deciduous, evergreen, temperate; if you look up any one of these topics, you will find an array of related stories about animals and plant life, all necessary to life in the forest. In the glossary, you will find related vocabulary, some pictures/graphics, and simple explanations to whet your child's appetite for reading about animal life, the ways they find food, attract mates, escape enemies, and also ways of adapting to their habitats. Every word is a step further to searching for another topic, furthering the interest of your daughter or son, as they journey through a world of interesting information. What better way, than a book in the mid-size version. Try one, and see.

Who reads an encyclopedia? But this one is great. I'm reading it with my 2nd grader as part of home school. She's learning a lot. The words are bit difficult for a beginning 2nd grader, but the content is educational.

The print and picture are way too small in this miniature version. I wish Usborne would print this book in a more normal size. It should be at least 2-3 times bigger. If the size was more reasonable, I would give it a 5 star rating. It's truly a beautiful, informative book. My kids and I are enjoying reading it together.