Dorling Kindersley Children's Atlas [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

A new atlas for a new world.

As we enter a new millennium, we are witnessing a period of dramatic environmental, political, and social changes to the structure and shape of our world. The time has come for a new way of representing our knowledge and understanding of the Earth. Using innovative computer technology and the latest cartographic data, the Dorling Kindersley Children's Atlas provides an amazingly fresh view of our home planet. Its unique three-dimensional maps, created from a computerized terrain model of the globe, have a clarity and accuracy never before seen in print. Each of the continents is introduced with a stunning physical map giving an overview of its geography, vegetation, and climate, while more than 50 superbly detailed large-scale maps focus on the world's countries, mapping their rivers, mountains, lakes, roads, and main cities. Over 1,000 photographs, diagrams, and illustrations help capture the particular flavor of each region and its people, depicting everything from historic buildings and local food to dramatic landscapes and traditional clothing. The unique combination of high-quality mapping, beautiful images, and informative text is a brand-new way of presenting geographical information for use both at home and at school.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With the dawn of the new millennium, the earth is changing more rapidly than ever--politically, environmentally, socially, and physically. Dorling Kindersley rises to the occasion with a beautiful revised and updated children's atlas, filled to bursting with more than 50 innovative three-dimensional computer-generated maps, informative text, and over 1,000 stellar photographs, illustrations, and diagrams. The maps are organized by continent. Each section opens with a large, double-page spread introducing readers to the physical geography of the continent. Then the continent is divided by country or group of countries, with a focus on human geography. Finally a glossary and index provide additional information about place names and facts about each country. Entertaining features reveal fascinating tidbits about various regions and peoples: Did you know that Lake Baikal in Russia contains 20 percent of the world's fresh water? Or that sheep in New Zealand have the right of way and outnumber people 20 to 1? Vivid, large-scale maps reveal the world more accurately and clearly than ever before. This is a resource to keep close at hand for school projects, travel dreaming, or just the curious mind. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-This revision of the Eyewitness Atlas of the World (DK, 1994; o.p.) boasts maps created using "innovative computer technology and the latest cartographic data"; brief, broad overviews of geography, climate, resources, industry, and vegetation; and hundreds of photographs, diagrams, and illustrations. The representation of the physical characteristics of the continents and countries is truly stunning; the maps appear three-dimensional. In addition, they are lighter and multicolored, an improvement over those in the earlier edition. Brief captions accompany the illustrative material, giving readers information on cultural, economic, and geographic aspects of countries. A new section covering the North American continent has been added. The index includes only map locations and fact boxes on the countries. There is much to like about this atlas. The layout is open and the book contains a wealth of information. Yet, it may be difficult for children to use. The typeface is light and it is often difficult to locate a country's name on the map. The many small icons on the physical maps often make it difficult to extract information and the symbols used in the index's fact boxes call for rather sophisticated information-retrieval skills. The National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers (National Geographic, 1998) is easier to use and while it does not include as much peripheral information, it more than covers the basics. Dorling Kindersley Children's Atlas, while not essential, could be used as an additional resource and for browsing.

Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; Revised edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789458454
• ISBN-13: 978-0789458452
• Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 10.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,754,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)