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Smithsonian Visual Encyclopedia
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia (Second Edition)
Following in the footsteps of DK's bestselling adult title Animal, which sold in excess of 2 million copies, Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia reveals the wonders of the animal kingdom to a younger readership.
Structured by animal group with separate entries for every notable type of animal, from ants and aardvarks to wasps and wallabies Fact files provide key information on behavior, distribution, diet, and conservation issues Action photography reveals wild animals interacting in their native habitats and puts natural behavior in context Highlights animals most likely to fire the imagination of young minds: the deadliest, the largest, the friendliest, the fastest, and the downright strangest Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Structured by animal group with separate entries for every notable type of animal, from ants and aardvarks to wasps and wallabies Fact files provide key information on behavior, distribution, diet, and conservation issues Action photography reveals wild animals interacting in their native habitats and puts natural behavior in context Highlights animals most likely to fire the imagination of young minds: the deadliest, the largest, the friendliest, the fastest, and the downright strangest Supports the Common Core State Standards.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 23, 2024
it was fun learning about my favorite animals. I might even read it again.
February 24, 2025
If you have an animal lover in your life, kid or adult, this book is absolutely worth owning for the pictures alone. Also has many fun and interesting animal facts.
January 3, 2009
Is it just me, or does it seem that encyclopedias have come a long way in a relatively short amount of time? Lately it seems you can’t turn around without seeing a creative, user-friendly reference section stand-out. “Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia” is part of that crowd. A good combination of browseability and solid “get your research report done” facts. Beautiful photography and a wide assortment of fauna make this one hard to deny. You’re a librarian? You got a reference section? Good. Make sure you put this in it.
The book opens with a few pages of getting started-type info including a table of contents, a description of what an animal is, and information on various types of animal habitats. Introductions out of the way, the book is arranged into color-coded categories for each major animal group. You’ve got your mammals, your birds, your reptiles - you know the drill. Within each category there are sections that get more specific (ie: in the mammals category there is a “Camels and Relatives” section). Inside these smaller sections, individual creatures are highlighted. Symbols quickly provide habitat and endangered species status, along with a infinitely useful little graphic showing the animal’s size in relation to a human. A glossary and index shore up the back of the book.
Photographs are used liberally throughout - this ain’t a visual encyclopedia for nothing. Colorful, close-up, and candid, the photos do their job well.
As with any animal reference, sacrifices have to be made. It won’t surprise you to find out that not every creature is represented here. What results is a combination of most of the popular critters alongside the more obscure. Most students shouldn’t have too much of a problem researching their animal of choice.
Abundantly illustrated and brimming with facts, “Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia” will be a success with young readers. A solid non-fiction selection.
The book opens with a few pages of getting started-type info including a table of contents, a description of what an animal is, and information on various types of animal habitats. Introductions out of the way, the book is arranged into color-coded categories for each major animal group. You’ve got your mammals, your birds, your reptiles - you know the drill. Within each category there are sections that get more specific (ie: in the mammals category there is a “Camels and Relatives” section). Inside these smaller sections, individual creatures are highlighted. Symbols quickly provide habitat and endangered species status, along with a infinitely useful little graphic showing the animal’s size in relation to a human. A glossary and index shore up the back of the book.
Photographs are used liberally throughout - this ain’t a visual encyclopedia for nothing. Colorful, close-up, and candid, the photos do their job well.
As with any animal reference, sacrifices have to be made. It won’t surprise you to find out that not every creature is represented here. What results is a combination of most of the popular critters alongside the more obscure. Most students shouldn’t have too much of a problem researching their animal of choice.
Abundantly illustrated and brimming with facts, “Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia” will be a success with young readers. A solid non-fiction selection.
December 28, 2019
Currently my son's go-to book on animals, which has been a welcome complement to his interest in dinosaurs. Once again, he has an amazing ability to connect animal names to familiar pictures, which, as recently became clear, extends to the words themselves (which he evidently processes as long "sight words" rather than reading phonetically). It's hard to say whether he has a favorite, as he's very enthusiastic about all kinds, fish, mammals, reptiles, etc., and also the distinctions between these various groups. If I had to choose, I'd say he's most interested in big cats. And polar bears.
January 25, 2024
The gorilla on the cover of the book looks like it has had a hair straightening treatment at a hair salon, but that information was not in the book.
This book made me realize how many different kinds of animals there are in the world.
How many animals can we come into contact with during your lifetime?
We may not be able to meet the animals of the North and South Pole, but there is always life in the sky, under the ground, and even in the heavens that we humans cannot see.
May all life be happy.
This book made me realize how many different kinds of animals there are in the world.
How many animals can we come into contact with during your lifetime?
We may not be able to meet the animals of the North and South Pole, but there is always life in the sky, under the ground, and even in the heavens that we humans cannot see.
May all life be happy.
February 24, 2018
Bite sized information, wonderful graphics and variety
December 13, 2020
Great book. Lots of great facts. Good explanations as to animal groupings. Some stunning photos. My students love this book.
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June 26, 2013Name: Animals: a children's encyclopedia
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia. (2008). New York: DK Publishing.
Type of Reference: Encyclopedia
Call Number: 590.3
Brief description: “Many elementary age children are interested in animals of all sorts. This encyclopedia appeals to the visual learner with written words and beautiful graphichs, both pictures and illustrated, of the major animal groups.
Citation for where the item has been reviewed: Waddick, James W. Science Books & Films, March/April 2009, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p78-79, 2p
Criteria
Content/Scope: This encyclopedia does a great job of covering a wide variety of animals. It gives details including lifespan, habitats, and physical features that aide in survival.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This encyclopedia is published by a well-known publisher, with many editors and consultants listed on the copyright information.
Arrangement/Presentation: The highlight of this book is the spectacular visual design of the pages. The photographs are exciting and eyecatching. This encyclopedia will appeal to elementary users and would be an excellent addition to any school and public library reference collection.
Relation to other works: There are many children’s animal encyclopedias. This encyclopedia has a user friendly layout with designs that help the new researcher navigate easily through the information.
Accessibility/Diversity: The mix if pictures with labels and small side notes allow for learners with varying reading and interest levels to enjoy the information that can be found within the encyclopedia.
Cost: $29.99
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia. (2008). New York: DK Publishing.
Type of Reference: Encyclopedia
Call Number: 590.3
Brief description: “Many elementary age children are interested in animals of all sorts. This encyclopedia appeals to the visual learner with written words and beautiful graphichs, both pictures and illustrated, of the major animal groups.
Citation for where the item has been reviewed: Waddick, James W. Science Books & Films, March/April 2009, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p78-79, 2p
Criteria
Content/Scope: This encyclopedia does a great job of covering a wide variety of animals. It gives details including lifespan, habitats, and physical features that aide in survival.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This encyclopedia is published by a well-known publisher, with many editors and consultants listed on the copyright information.
Arrangement/Presentation: The highlight of this book is the spectacular visual design of the pages. The photographs are exciting and eyecatching. This encyclopedia will appeal to elementary users and would be an excellent addition to any school and public library reference collection.
Relation to other works: There are many children’s animal encyclopedias. This encyclopedia has a user friendly layout with designs that help the new researcher navigate easily through the information.
Accessibility/Diversity: The mix if pictures with labels and small side notes allow for learners with varying reading and interest levels to enjoy the information that can be found within the encyclopedia.
Cost: $29.99
Want to read
June 22, 2012Review by: Susan Overton
Encyclopedia Reference
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia
(2012). Animals: a visual encyclopedia. (2 ed.). New York, NY: Dorling Kindersly Publishing.
Price: $19.99
Relevance and Relationship: This book is an encyclopedia that focuses on all animals.
Purpose: This book provides students with pictures and facts about every animal in the animal kingdom.
Format: This book is in print.
Arrangement and Presentation: The book is arranged by animal groups with each animal being its own subheading
Diversity: This book will give the students knowledge about animals that they may not encounter in their life.
Encyclopedia Reference
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia
(2012). Animals: a visual encyclopedia. (2 ed.). New York, NY: Dorling Kindersly Publishing.
Price: $19.99
Relevance and Relationship: This book is an encyclopedia that focuses on all animals.
Purpose: This book provides students with pictures and facts about every animal in the animal kingdom.
Format: This book is in print.
Arrangement and Presentation: The book is arranged by animal groups with each animal being its own subheading
Diversity: This book will give the students knowledge about animals that they may not encounter in their life.
September 26, 2016
As we begin our K2 Unit of Inquiry into Living Things, I've been turning my attention to non-fiction. We've stocked up on lots of encyclopedias this year, and while their content might appear a little complex for pre-readers, in fact children love the vivid photographs and opportunity to find things out. This encyclopedia is a paperback, so may not be as durable as some of our other encyclopedias, and contains much more information. One to look at for the amazing photos, and for slightly older children to enjoy the richly detailed text.
November 14, 2010
This is a very comprehensive encyclopedia on animals. It has big, bright photographs, simple two-page spreads on the various species of animals and big sections on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. We didn't actually read the whole book cover to cover, but we did flip around the various sections and pick many of our favorite animals to read about. It's a fascinating reference book and a useful, informative guide on animals.
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August 14, 2015Animals is a great informational book by Smithsonian. This book not only gives photos of animals it also includes very detailed accounts of their lives. There are many varieties of each species and this book helps to break these levels down. Any student interested in animals will love this book and learn unusual things about all that are included.
September 13, 2008
I love love love DK books!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews