Adult/High School-A comprehensive resource on the polar regions of the world, arranged in broad sections covering geology, geography, plants, birds and animals, exploration (by both early professionals and current tourists), and human life. Within each section, Antarctica is discussed first and then the Arctic. The entertaining text is best understood by students who have had some classes in earth sciences and biology. It is accompanied by a large number of high-quality, full-color photographs and illustrations. These well-captioned graphics and entertaining boxed inserts will attract browsers. Maps locate wildlife, show exploration, and indicate geologic features. The easy-to-use CD is arranged in the same sections and includes the text and many photos from the book. However, at least two photos were used twice and do not relate to the adjacent text. A lengthy list of current Web sites is available in the book and on the CD and will lead students to even more up-to-date information. The one in the book is annotated.
Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Beautifully illustrated with color photographs and maps on every page, this inviting encyclopedia will delight both the eye and the mind. Most of the contributors are specialists in Antarctica, and less than a quarter of the book covers the Arctic. Keeping this focus in mind, readers will find that award-winning travel writer McGonigal and Woodworth, a specialist in genetic diversity who visits Antarctica regularly, have provided an excellent reference. The book covers the environment of the poles, polar geophysics and weather patterns, ecology, wildlife and flora, polar exploration, and working in the polar environments; only substantive information on the polar peoples is excluded. The last section contains additional resources such as the Antarctic Treaty, wildlife conservation status, a vocabulary, a list of museums and research institutes with strong Antarctic collections, and recommended Antarctic links on the web. The user can navigate the text using a table of contents, an index, and a gazetteer, which refers to maps throughout the book. In addition, there is a CD-ROM, which is fully searchable and as beautifully illustrated as the book. This encyclopedia is a good companion to John Stewart's Antarctica: An Encyclopedia (McFarland, 1990), which, although it covers more geographical locations, does not have the depth of this book. But though it contains more recent material on the Arctic, this volume definitely cannot replace other encyclopedias on this region. Recommended for academic libraries and adult collections in public libraries and essential for any library with strong Arctic or Antarctic collections. Betty Galbraith, Owen Science & Engineering Lib., Washington State Univ., Pullman
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
