NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LITTLE KIDS FIRST ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALMOST EVERYTHING

A visual compendium spanning a broad array of topics.

Vibrant photography, bright illustrations, and clear diagrams distinguish this beginner’s encyclopedia, which covers a wide range of topics divided into 10 broad sections: “All About You,” “Down to Earth,” “Big Wide World,” “From the Ground Up,” “Creature Feature,” “Dino-Roar!,” “Time Machine,” “Bright Ideas,” “Things That Zoom!,” and “Out of This World.” Each section is divided into focused chapters where the information is organized into logical chunks. Visuals dominate the full-color two-page spreads, which contain short paragraphs and text boxes that are jam-packed with fun facts and trivia. For example, the third chapter, which focuses on maps, offers the tidbit that “Vietnam is home to the world’s largest cave. Some parts of Son Doong are so big that a skyscraper could fit inside. A river flows through it, and a rainforest grows there, too!” The thoughtful layout includes color-coded chapter headings and topic icons that match the table of contents, allowing for quick identification and easy browsing. The text is appropriate for different reading levels: The book uses simpler vocabulary in a larger font size for labels and headers, while the longer explanations are suited for stronger readers or for adults to read aloud. The human figures in the illustrations and photographs are diverse in race and ethnicity.

Sleek design coupled with engaging images and information make this a winner for curious kids.