My First Encyclopedia

For the most part, Watson succeeds in the challenging task of compiling an informative ``encyclopedia'' of interest to a very young audience. As in previous books in the My First series, the full-color, crystal-clear photos steal the show, enabling preschoolers to ``read'' the pages on their own and identify familiar objects. Curiously, the entries are not arranged alphabetically, but rather thematically, beginning with those subjects closest to a child's daily experiences (``The human body,'' ``Families,'' ``Games and sports,'' ``Jobs people do'') and moving on to more wide-reaching topics (``In the ocean,'' ``Traveling on land,'' ``Into space''). Too often, ancillary or arbitrary information is offered rather than definitions or succinct descriptions. For example, the text accompanying a picture of a factory reads: ``Factories are often built on the outskirts of a town. This means that trucks delivering to the factories do not have to drive through the heavy traffic in the city center.'' Still, there is plenty to look at and learn, especially for those at the younger end of the intended audience. Ages 3-7. ( May )