DK Geography of the World [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1960 | Age Level: 9 and up

Clear, country-by-country layout makes this an ideal reference.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8. This book attempts to provide comprehensive geographical information by combining the features of an atlas (maps, charts, and a gazetteer) with full-color photographs, text, fact boxes, and diagrams. As with most DK titles, the graphics are appealing and generally of high quality. However, this title is of limited value as a reference tool, even for elementary schools. Compared with a true atlas, such as the Hammond Atlas of the World (1995) or The National Geographic Atlas of the World (1995), the maps and cartographic charts are small with limited detail and are sometimes difficult to read. The skimpy and uneven nature of the general information on human and physical geography quickly becomes apparent if compared with resources such as The Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (UXL, 1996) or The World Book Encyclopedia of People and Places (1996). Even without one of these specialized works, students would be better served by a good basic atlas, almanac, and general encyclopedia.?Stephen Del Vecchio, The Family Academy, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This excellent, colorful summary of the earth, its land, plants, animals, and human life, is the newest offering from DK, a name synonymous with beautiful pictures and accurate, if terse, information.

The introductory matter includes an overview of plate tectonics, biomes, population, and politics. The book divides the world into continents, then treats single countries or groups of countries. The format is uniform: there are map pages and country pages. The map pages have a relief map of the section of the continent with a locator map placing it in relation to the continent. There is climate information about a few selected cities with average temperature and rainfall in January and July. There is a box of superlatives (highest, lowest, longest, etc.) and another of "Things to Look For." National flags are reproduced in full color. The country pages treat the culture of the country with color photographs and illustrations with captions. Fact boxes for each country include Capital, Area, Population, Language, Religion, Government, Currency, Adult Literacy, Life Expectancy, People per Doctor, and Televisions and a small outline map of the country in relation to the continental section. Entries range from one paragraph and two captions for small countries to eight pages for the U.S. Most large countries have a full page. The Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and the Arctic also have individual entries. A reference section uses maps to explain Political Systems, International Organizations, World Religions, Health and Education, Rich and Poor, and World Trade. There is a glossary (no pronunciation guide), a gazetteer, and an index.

The worst that can be said of this book is that there is simply not enough information to do research with any depth. The best is that the book is colorful, attractive, and has current information that middle-school students and up will find fascinating. That all this information is easy to find and relatively inexpensive should put this on the A list of most school and public libraries. For similar titles, see our "Countries of the World" article [RBB Ag 96].

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (January 1, 1960)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789410044
• ISBN-13: 978-0789410047
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,661,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Edition to Classroom Reference Section, March 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: DK Geography of the World (Hardcover)

As a contained classroom teacher, I am always searching for good reference material for my classroom. This geography would be an excellent edition to my class library. The text is readable for 4th through 6th graders. The illustrations are beautiful, and the maps are accurate. This volume contains a "world" of information that would interest students and be useful for their research.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars and when you finish with *this* atlas ..., July 15, 2006

By 

David A. Baer (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: DK Geography of the World (Hardcover)

This engaging school 'geography' reference is worth its weight in at least copper, and you can pick one up used for under a dollar. The DK Geography of the World is that rare book that delivers more than it promises.

The book opens with excellent introductions for school and family levels on the physical world, moving continents, climate and vegetation, world population, and the political world before launching into region by region and country by country brief surveys.

Each one contains just enough information to whet a young or inexperienced appetite and - let's just keep this our little secret, shall we? - to toss a quick briefing in the direction of the seasoned traveler headed for parts unknown.

The book aims for accessibility with a certain breezy tone: more than one country is 'tucked just inside the northwest(ern) corner of' its respective region (see the UK and Belorussia).

The DK pays nice interest in the history of each country, frequently noting what a given country was 'part of' before its emergence as a modern nation-state.

About the only bad thing you can say about this quasi-atlas is that it's not the Oxford Atlas of the World. But for 74¢ used + postage, what's the harm in that?