Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space, and More! (National Geographic)

Gr 5-8--Large trim size and solid heft notwithstanding, this single-volume science encyclopedia is less an authoritative survey than a quick and indifferently organized scan of its topic. The plethora of single-topic spreads are summarily slotted into either "Physical Science" (with the overambitious boast that here "you will discover everything you need to know about the physical sciences") or "Life Science." Introductions to organic chemistry, bioelectricity ("Frankenstein Science"), and vision are arbitrarily placed in the former section; chapters on "The Universe" and "Planet Earth" are shoehorned into the latter. As in most National Geographic productions, the photography and digital art are sharp and lavish in quantity, and images are chosen as much for their drama or visual impact as for their informational content. But as for the content, many sentences (for instance, "The Italian cathedral still has that lamp inside, and today it is named for Galileo") show a need for more careful copyediting. Broken up into short blocks, the text also contains occasional cheesy jokes and simple science experiments of dubious value, which come off as labored and an unnecessary changes of pace. VERDICT There is not much to distinguish this offering from similar flashy compendia of science facts like National Geographic Science of Everything or The Science Book: Everything You Need To Know About the World and How It Works. But its minor updates make it worth considering as an additional purchase for middle school browsers.--John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York