A compact and powerful reference book for children of 8 and over, with accurate and up-to-date information on all subjects: the perfect companion at home and at school, in a handy pocket-sized format. Features: * conceived specially for children, with lively text and modern design * ultimate authority: planned, researched and written in consultation with over 50 specialists around the world * unrivalled and balanced coverage, with over 250 major A-Z entries on all subjects from Africa to Zoos * A-Z organization allows quick access to information * extra information in feature boxes, timelines, fact and record boxes, and captions that expand on the information given in the main text * separate back section includes world history timeline, sports fact file, geography fact file, and more * full index and cross-referencing encourage children to explore * over 1000 illustrations: full-colour photographs and attractive, clear diagrams, maps and graphs.