Meet an amazing menagerie of creatures on this breathtaking safari through the animal kingdom. The Kingfisher Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia spans the earth from pole to pole, covering 2,000 animals from the tiniest protozoan to the mightiest mammal. Special feature panels focus on various aspects of animal behavior such as camouflage, migration, and hibernation. Easy-to-use and packed with dramatic photographs and illustrations, this colorful volume is an indispensable reference for school projects and a captivating resource for the whole family. Clear and informative text about all animals from the simplest cells to the most complex animals. Written by award-winning author David Burnie. Excellent reference book for the whole family. Includes glossary, alternative name index, and general index.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Reviewed with Dorling Kindersley Animal Encyclopedia.
These two single-volume animal encyclopedias are designed for the upper-elementary level and up. In both, the color photographs practically leap off the page and are accompanied by brief descriptions that will activate one's curiosity to look further.
The DK volume begins with a lengthy presentation called "Animal Life" covering such general topics as classification, communication, habitats, and migration. This is followed by "Animal A-Z," where animals are treated in segments of up to three pages. As one expects from DK, the emphasis is on the illustrations, which are accompanied by captions, and short chunks of text and fact boxes that list family, habitation, food, life span, size, and other data. There are almost 150 A-Z entries, many including full-page photographs that show animals in their natural habitats. More than 2,000 species are covered, although the majority are represented only by a photograph. Animals were presumably selected because of their interest to children (and British children at that, because there is a full-page entry for hedgehogs). The text concludes with a glossary and an index.
The Kingfisher volume takes a more scientific approach. Noted naturalist Burnie sets a nice background in his introduction about the characteristics of animals. He includes a couple of pages that depict the classification of animals, followed by two pages that clearly show how all the animals fit into the animal kingdom. Instead of the alphabetical format used in the DK volume, information on animals is arranged by class, from simple animals to mammals. These divisions are further broken down by phylum and subphylum. Within these sections, there is a paragraph devoted to each selected species (more than 2,000 in all) providing scientific name, distribution, and size, as well as a brief description. Sidebars treat topics such as metamorphosis and symbiosis. A glossary and index complete the text.
Photographs and illustrations abound. Each bewitching photo attracts the reader to read the description, and Burnie's descriptions are interesting. He tells us, for example, that most pipe fish swim horizontally, but some swim vertically. The males carry the eggs until they hatch, as do male seahorses. (Could this get a discussion going on the division of labor around a home?) There are several pictures of copulating animals, such as the toads in the section on amphibians. Most adults (parents and teachers) should not find this objectionable and will recognize the natural scientific tone.
In both volumes, the strong visual presentation is likely to attract readers. The DK volume may be more accessible to children in younger grades, while the Kingfisher volume will be appreciated by students who are ready for a more sophisticated approach. Both books are recommended for homes, schools, and public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
Children's Literature
The wonderful aspect of this approach is the obvious relationship among groups of animals. A good reference for home and library that is useful for children and adults.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference material,
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This review is from: The Kingfisher Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia (Kingfisher Family of Encyclopedias) (Hardcover)
This book has been a great addition to our library. It provides short, concise blurbs about a variety of animals. It is also filled with amazing photographs of the animals discussed. Great reference!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for kids!,
By Mistress AMG (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Kingfisher Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia (Kingfisher Family of Encyclopedias) (Hardcover)
My twin nieces are obsessed with the animal kingdom. I bought them this for their 5th birthday and it's been one year and they're still not bored with it! My brother says it's nice because when he reads with them he learns something new too!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Service,
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This review is from: Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia, The (Hardcover)
Highly recommended. Book was received quickly in perfect condition. Did not need to contact seller. Great gift right before holiday season.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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excluding legs, excluding tail, beach fleas, muddy coasts, tooth shells Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean Sea, Central America, Pacific Ocean, Far East, United States, Middle East, Indian Ocean, New Guinea, Sahara Desert, The European, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Ocean, Tropical Africa, Caribbean Sea, Galapagos Islands, Arctic Circle, Arctic Ocean, Eastern Australia, The Eurasian, Sri Lanka Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
excluding legs, excluding tail, beach fleas, muddy coasts, tooth shells Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean Sea, Central America, Pacific Ocean, Far East, United States, Middle East, Indian Ocean, New Guinea, Sahara Desert, The European, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Ocean, Tropical Africa, Caribbean Sea, Galapagos Islands, Arctic Circle, Arctic Ocean, Eastern Australia, The Eurasian, Sri Lanka Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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- Making the Grade: Everything Your 4th Grader Needs to Know by Robert R. Roth on page 164
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