BRITANNICA ALL NEW KIDS' ENCYCLOPEDIA

The second edition of a wide-ranging, single-volume encyclopedia tailor-made for browsing and discovery.

While the “all new” part of the title may be an overstatement—this is essentially a reprint of the 2020 edition with updated timelines and other minor changes—both the design and content offer curious readers any number of rewarding dips into topics ranging from the Big Bang and the effects of climate change to a current list of the world’s wealthiest people. The entries, arranged by topic into sections—“Universe,” “Earth,” “Matter,” “Life,” “Humans,” “Ancient & Medieval Times,” Modern Times,” and “Today & Tomorrow”—frequently contain “see also” references directing readers to related topics. The meaty but easily digestible blocks of information appear in both narrative and list form. Throughout, in text boxes labeled “Game Changer,” readers will find profiles of notable individuals. Imagination-stretching features headed “Known Unknown” explore aspects of a topic that remain theoretical or inscrutable. Interviews with subject experts and a pop quiz close each of the eight general chapters. Generous quantities of photos and graphic images, another strength, invite viewers to peer into deep space or a plant cell, contemplate the range of human facial expressions, witness income inequality in São Paulo, or marvel at the haute couture worn to the 2024 Met Gala.

Broad in scope and enticing throughout.