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The Encyclopedia of Earth: A Complete Visual Guide
This sumptuously illustrated, beautifully written encyclopedia, the best book available on the topic, presents the most up-to-date information about planet Earth in a style and format that will appeal to an extremely wide range of readers. With thousands of photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and maps and a text written by a team of international experts, it presents an impressive overview of our globe―beginning with the history of the universe and ending with today's conservation issues. A truly spectacular reference, The Encyclopedia of Earth offers new visual interpretations of many ideas, concepts, and facts, painting a fascinating picture of Earth today and across the ages.
The encyclopedia is divided into six sections that are designed for either browsing or in-depth study. Birth gives an overview of Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, including the evolution of life. Fire explains the inner workings of our dynamic planet, its structure, and the tectonic forces that have molded its landscape. Land surveys rocks, minerals, and habitats. Air covers weather, including extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Water tours the oceans, rivers, and lakes of the world. The final section, Humans, provides a compelling portrait of our relationship with Earth, and of how the natural world has shaped social and political developments.
Weldon Owen Publishing
The Encyclopedia of Earth
* Some of the world's finest landscape photography and hundreds of detailed illustrations and diagrams, cross sections, cutaways, maps, and charts
* Coverage of topics including volcanology, paleontology, geology, natural history, cosmology, and more
* Simple, easy-to-understand explanations of complex phenomena
* The most recent scientific information and conservation data
* "Fact files" providing information at readers' fingertips
* "Heritage Watch" boxes focusing on key conservation issues and World Heritage sites
The encyclopedia is divided into six sections that are designed for either browsing or in-depth study. Birth gives an overview of Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, including the evolution of life. Fire explains the inner workings of our dynamic planet, its structure, and the tectonic forces that have molded its landscape. Land surveys rocks, minerals, and habitats. Air covers weather, including extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Water tours the oceans, rivers, and lakes of the world. The final section, Humans, provides a compelling portrait of our relationship with Earth, and of how the natural world has shaped social and political developments.
Weldon Owen Publishing
The Encyclopedia of Earth
* Some of the world's finest landscape photography and hundreds of detailed illustrations and diagrams, cross sections, cutaways, maps, and charts
* Coverage of topics including volcanology, paleontology, geology, natural history, cosmology, and more
* Simple, easy-to-understand explanations of complex phenomena
* The most recent scientific information and conservation data
* "Fact files" providing information at readers' fingertips
* "Heritage Watch" boxes focusing on key conservation issues and World Heritage sites
608 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2008
7 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Michael Allaby
174 books11 followersJohn Michael Allaby was a British author and actor. He was the Aventis Junior prize-winner.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2017
Fantastic teaching resource
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November 29, 2015Allaby, M. (2008). Visual encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.
Citation by: Tonya Saylor
Type of Reference: Encyclopedia
Call Number: Ref
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0366-1
Content/Scope: This single-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive information about planet earth using easy-to-read text and over 400 colorful photos and illustrations.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: Author, Michael Allaby, is an internationally recognized expert on environmental science, geography, weather, and climate. He has edited or written almost 100 books on related topics, such as plants and animals, earth science, ecology, and zoology.
Arrangement/Presentation: This encyclopedia is arranged in 8 chapters which gives a general overview of planet earth. The book is heavily illustrated.
Relation to other works: There are various encyclopedias available but this encyclopedia tends to give a general overview of planet earth, while many other encyclopedias of this nature have a narrower focus. This reference book is intended for students over the age of 10.
Accessibility/Diversity: The illustrations very colorful illustrations which will be of specific interest to students who are visual learners. Because it is easy-to-read, students of all ability levels find it useful.
Cost: $24.95
Professional Review:
Voice of Youth Advocates
( June 01, 2009; 9781426303678 )
This atlas-like book uses eight heavily illustrated chapters to attempt to chart all the information there is about this planet. "Our Place in Space" shows Earth's connections to the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies. "History of Life" explains how it all began and where it has gone, including mass extinctions. "Inside Earth" goes from the molten core to the minerals and stones found on the surface. "Dynamic Earth" explores the forces that shape the globe, from volcanoes to ice ages. "Oceans" and "Land" touch on those topics in all their forms and diversity. "Weather" explains the processes that create the climate, and "Earth's Resources" looks at how humans use coal, oil, gas, solar, wind, and water power. As the book is meant as an overview of the entire planet, nothing is explained in depth, therefore in trying to cover too much, it does not cover enough. There are photos and illustrations galore-maps, charts, and time lines are everywhere-but not every map or illustration is explained, which can lead to confusion. A map of the moon is multicolored. Why? What do the varied colors represent? Readers may never know. The broadness of the subject makes it seem as if the book is meant for young elementary school students rather than middle schoolers. This publisher usually offers high quality reading and research material, but this book disappointingly falls rather flat.-Geri Diorio.
Copyright © E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.
Citation by: Tonya Saylor
Type of Reference: Encyclopedia
Call Number: Ref
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0366-1
Content/Scope: This single-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive information about planet earth using easy-to-read text and over 400 colorful photos and illustrations.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: Author, Michael Allaby, is an internationally recognized expert on environmental science, geography, weather, and climate. He has edited or written almost 100 books on related topics, such as plants and animals, earth science, ecology, and zoology.
Arrangement/Presentation: This encyclopedia is arranged in 8 chapters which gives a general overview of planet earth. The book is heavily illustrated.
Relation to other works: There are various encyclopedias available but this encyclopedia tends to give a general overview of planet earth, while many other encyclopedias of this nature have a narrower focus. This reference book is intended for students over the age of 10.
Accessibility/Diversity: The illustrations very colorful illustrations which will be of specific interest to students who are visual learners. Because it is easy-to-read, students of all ability levels find it useful.
Cost: $24.95
Professional Review:
Voice of Youth Advocates
( June 01, 2009; 9781426303678 )
This atlas-like book uses eight heavily illustrated chapters to attempt to chart all the information there is about this planet. "Our Place in Space" shows Earth's connections to the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies. "History of Life" explains how it all began and where it has gone, including mass extinctions. "Inside Earth" goes from the molten core to the minerals and stones found on the surface. "Dynamic Earth" explores the forces that shape the globe, from volcanoes to ice ages. "Oceans" and "Land" touch on those topics in all their forms and diversity. "Weather" explains the processes that create the climate, and "Earth's Resources" looks at how humans use coal, oil, gas, solar, wind, and water power. As the book is meant as an overview of the entire planet, nothing is explained in depth, therefore in trying to cover too much, it does not cover enough. There are photos and illustrations galore-maps, charts, and time lines are everywhere-but not every map or illustration is explained, which can lead to confusion. A map of the moon is multicolored. Why? What do the varied colors represent? Readers may never know. The broadness of the subject makes it seem as if the book is meant for young elementary school students rather than middle schoolers. This publisher usually offers high quality reading and research material, but this book disappointingly falls rather flat.-Geri Diorio.
Copyright © E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.
February 5, 2016
Even an a cursory glance at the book prior to purchase is impressive enough ( -hence the purchase in the first place!) - what with the part illustrating solar system and its planets and other fascinating objects before going on to Earth, our own planet. Then there is the geophysical parts and other about Earth. All in all a must in a home aspiring for well educated family, especially with growing children. In a school library, needless to say, it is indispensable.
As a matter of fact one might as well have children familiar with it when young, before they are corrupted by the peer cynicism against knowledge so very prevalent in some of the richer nations where being well informed gets a child bullied in school and a football jock or anyone capable of bullying is the object of worship, and tobacco-alcohol-and-co seem cool, partying a must and study merely a painful requisite for sat unless one has a cool career in hand such as a garage mechanic or a sport scholarship to push one through college all the way without any reading skills.
In parts of the world where knowledge and information are still valued, this book is a valuable addition to any home, any library.
As a matter of fact one might as well have children familiar with it when young, before they are corrupted by the peer cynicism against knowledge so very prevalent in some of the richer nations where being well informed gets a child bullied in school and a football jock or anyone capable of bullying is the object of worship, and tobacco-alcohol-and-co seem cool, partying a must and study merely a painful requisite for sat unless one has a cool career in hand such as a garage mechanic or a sport scholarship to push one through college all the way without any reading skills.
In parts of the world where knowledge and information are still valued, this book is a valuable addition to any home, any library.
March 16, 2009
I seem to have a slightly different version of this book, but the content is primarily the same. This is pretty much an illustrated earth science book. Short explanations and descriptions of the general topics of earth science, touching on subjects like the evolution of the solar system, natural forces at work, various kinds of creatures and ecosystems, etc. The basic overviews are well-written and informative, but where this book really shines is the imagery. Another extensively illustrated book with high print quality. The definition in these images is amazing. I spent the better part of a weekend wandering through the evolution of this mysterious planet. Recommended if you like atlases and the like.
April 6, 2009
We had this out from the library for a long time and eventually ended up buying it. It's one of those large atlas-sized books and we do enjoy it. Toby loves the pictures and information. A great reference book for ages 5-10.
Want to read
December 6, 2008ohh...lots of pictures! :)
March 17, 2009
This book amused me for hours and hours and hours! Loved it, amazing photos and descriptions.
February 4, 2014
Everything you wanted to know about the Earth in 1 book.Full of stunning photos
January 13, 2009
Outstanding photos. A big glossy book about everything.
September 3, 2009
Beautiful visuals.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews