The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide

by Fred Cooke, Hugh Dingle, Stephen Hutchinson

The Encyclopedia of Animals is a lavishly illustrated, authoritative, and comprehensive exploration of the rich and intriguing world of animals. Written by an international team of specialists, spectacularly adorned with a gallery of more than 2,000 color illustrations, and supplemented with distribution maps, detailed and beautifully rendered diagrams, and some of the world's finest wildlife photographs, this volume will become the standard by which all others are measured. Each page is expertly laid out to enhance either browsing or in-depth study. Readers will find detailed coverage of all sorts of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.

The Encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of animal evolution, biology, behavior, classification, habitats, and current conservation issues. An extensive encyclopedic survey of the animals follows, with special attention given to endangered and vulnerable species. All information is completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific and conservation data.

Elegant graphics put a broad selection of information at readers' fingertips, including classification information, scientific and common names, distribution maps for all animal groups, conservation panels that focus on threatened species, accurate and detailed anatomical drawings, and illustrations of multiple species. Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups. Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior. With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this will be the ideal reference for a broad range of uses.

* Completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific information and conservation data

* A gallery of more than 2,000 illustrations

* Authoritative text contributed by a team of international specialists

* Lavish color photographs from leading wildlife photographers

* Distribution maps for all animal groups

* Detailed explanatory scientific diagrams

* Feature pages exploring topics of particular interest and providing insights into animal behavior

Genres: Science, Nature, Animals, Nonfiction, Reference, Biology, Science Nature

608 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Eddie Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

We bought this book for our daughter before she was born, largely because my parents had bought me a big animal book before I was born which became one of my closest companions while I was a child. Big animal books sure have changed a lot in 40 years. There's such an overload of information presented on each page (factoids proliferating on each page like a professorial hydra), which is a blessing and a curse, in that now instead of a child getting lost in a revery on a single suggestive picture now the child might be more likely to miss the revery due to an over-focus on information and factoids, factoids, factoids, ad infinitum; but then again information isn't all bad, if handled properly, and the quality of the photographs has certainly gone up. But this book has yet to be put to the acid test, as our daughter is just over two months old and doesn't know a book from bum wad yet.

[Salim M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on this encyclopedia and still remember the visuals when I see species of animals to this day

[Ferhat Culfaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. Good overview of all the animals of the world. Impressive,

[Belle Meade School]

590.3

[Ashley Browning]

Reviewed by: Ashley Browning

Format: Encyclopedia

Item Title (APA Style):
Bruce, J. (2004). The encyclopedia of animals: A complete visual guide. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Call number:
QL7 .E54 2004

Reviewed in:
Emerson, D. (2004).Book reviews. [Review of the book The encyclopedia of animals: A complete visual guide, by J. Bruce]. Library Journal, 129(19): 85 Retrieved June 17, 2012, from Academic Search Premier.

Description:
This book is a full-color illustrated encyclopedia of over two thousand species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates and includes detailed diagrams, distribution maps, and classification information.

Relevance and Relationship—
This book would be appropriate for the collection analyzed during my field experience hours because this encyclopedia contains information about a large number of animals in one book. The animal books currently in the collection are about individual animals. This encyclopedia would be more convenient and an excellent resource for teachers and students during life science units. The list price for this book is $39.95 which is very affordable.

Purpose:—
This book provides detailed information and pictures of hundreds of animals.

Validity—
This book has positive reviews in Booklist, Library Media Connection, and Library Journal.

Format–
The encyclopedia begins with an overview on animals discussing their classification, behavior, habitats, and possibilities of extinction. The book then divides into six taxonomic sections: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. Each section that is introduced with a double-page digital photograph contains an overview of the group or class, and then breaks down into chapters or subgroups. Each subgroup includes a physical description, conservation watch, habitats, reproduction, feeding habits, and a side bar "Fact File," which contains more facts on the various species. Contains appealing, colorful photos.

Arrangement and Presentation:
Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups. Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior.

Diversity:
This book is available in English and is appropriate for children in grades 2-8. Contains information about animals from all over the world.

[Marty Essen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nature writer, I own a large collection of natural history encyclopedias. When I wrote "Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents" and wanted the natural history of a particular animal I encountered in the wild, the two most frequent guides I turned to were the University of California Press's "The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide" and the Smithsonian's "Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide."

Which animal encyclopedia is better? While I give the tiniest nod to the Smithsonian's version, it's really a matter of personal preference. If you are a wildlife junkie like me, buy both! You'll find that both books have species the other one doesn't, and that species size and weight specifications will vary between the books as well.

I highly recommend "The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide."

Marty Essen, author of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is aimed at pre-teens and young teenagers, with over 500 pages of different animals it would be enjoyed by anyone who picked it up. Its the sort of book where you are compelled to share what you are reading with anyone else in the room, "Hey, did you know that....". Very fascinating.

[ba · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's sitting out on our coffee table right now.

[Kara Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facinating. I read it cover to cover. This book is beautiful.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favourite book when it comes to telling you about animals. The photos and illustrations are just delightful. It has so much information in it about all the animals.