All You Need to Know

Drawing on the ever-growing role of the Internet in providing research material for students, DK and Google have teamed up for the innovative e.encyclopedia, an encyclopedia and an accompanying Web site that together provide information on 600 subject areas. The book itself, laid out with the trademark DK design (clear photographs, bite-size information outlined in boxes or used as captions), is a comprehensive, photo-filled resource with sections on every major subject area: science, nature, history, culture, etc. Readers can enter highlighted keywords (enclosed within a consistent design element, an "E-Link" symbol) throughout the encyclopedia—such as "Jupiter" or "habitats" or "painting"—into the dedicated Web site to link to age-appropriate sites with related information, video clips and more. A note to parents explains that, while the carefully chosen sites are independent of Google and DK, these recommended links are regularly reviewed and updated. (DK, $39.99 448p ages 8-up ISBN 0-7894-9869-3; Oct.)

Adventures Around the World

A wide variety of titles introduce geographical and cultural topics around the globe. The Kingfisher Geography Encyclopedia by Clive Gifford begins with the formation of the earth, its rotation and its interior, and proceeds to describe its continents and countries, with maps, photos and information on population, language, government, economy, culture and more. Captioned photos offer up-close views of the salt mines nine miles southeast of Kraków, Poland, and a textile printer in Syria's second-largest city, plus a panoramic image of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia, between the Java and Sumatra islands. (Houghton/Kingfisher, $39.95 480p ages 9-14 ISBN 0-7534-5591-9; Oct.)

The Reader's Digest Children's Atlas of the World: New Third Edition has been updated with new maps, borders, statistics, population figures, and even new countries. General spreads on map-reading, climate, environmental concerns, regional conflicts and more introduce a number of countries, organized by continent. Each includes more detailed information plus hands-on activities, such as making a Mexican piñata or weaving a kilim (a flat, woven rug) from Turkey. (Reader's Digest, $24.99 128p ages 9-12 ISBN 0-7944-0207-0; Sept.)

The latest addition to the On My Own Holidays series, Day of the Dead by Linda Lowery, illus. by Barbara Knutson, describes the origins of this Mexican holiday (El dia de los muertos), which honors family members who have died. People attend parades, picnic near loved ones' final resting places, and share traditional treats such as chocolate calaveras (skulls). Brief text and folk-art illustrations make the holiday accessible and also accentuate its joyful aspects. (Lerner/Carolrhoda, $5.95 paper 48p ages 7-9 ISBN 1-57505-581-3; Sept.)

In Miranda the Explorer: A Magical Round-the-World Adventure by James Mayhew, Miranda, first met in Miranda the Castaway, accidentally takes flight in a hot air balloon. In her travels, she visits Mt. Everest, the Great Wall of China, the Grand Canyon, the Egyptian Pyramids and more, before she finally makes it home to London. (Orion [Trafalgar Sq., dist.], $16.95 32p ages 5-8 ISBN 1-84255-000-4; $8.95 paper -280-5; Sept.)

T Is for Toscana by Gary Kelley uses the alphabet to sample the countryside, history, culture and food of the Tuscany region of Italy, with brief text and romantic artwork rendered in pastels. A full-bleed spread of the Ponte Vecchio (which straddles the "Arno" for "A") opens the attractive volume, then gives way to a framed depiction of narrow streets where cyclists prepare for a race on "Bicicletta." One-page pictures with thick white borders highlight cypress trees ("Cipressi") and a breathtaking view of Florence's Duomo. A delectable place setting with "Zuppa" (soup), bread and wine brings this appealing alphabet to a close. (Creative Editions, $17.95 40p all ages ISBN 1-56846-177-1; Oct.)

Two titles take a closer look at perennially popular subjects. See-Through Pirates by Kelly Davis introduces the lives of the salty thieves from their ships and weapons to the punishments they inflicted on enemies, the food they ate, brief bios, etc. Transparent overlays offer time-lapse sequences, add another layer to a cutaway view of the ship, etc. See-Through Mummies by John Malam explores the beliefs of the Egyptians that led to the culture's first mummies, plus the methods of embalming and preserving them. Overlays convey methods of wrapping the deceased as well as the ornate decorations for the outer appearance of the mummies. (Running Press Kids, $15.95 32p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-7624-1587-8; -1586-X; Sept.)

Two additional titles take readers into the ancient civilization along the Nile. In Tales of the Dead: Ancient Egypt by Stuart Ross, illus. by Inklink and Richard Bonson, a graphic novel unfolds in panels around the border of each page, telling of a scribe and a serving girl who witness a crime committed by the powerful Chief Embalmer. Interesting facts and cross-sections complementing the story fill out the balance of the page—including pyramids and other tombs; the house of the dead, where mummies were made; and the temple of the crocodile god, Sobek. (DK, $14.99 32p ages 5-8 ISBN 0-7894-9857-X; Oct.)

Those who contributed to the way of life in the pharaohs' time proudly describe their work in the poems in Voices of Ancient Egypt by Kay Winters, illus. by Barry Moser. From the Scribe, who "unlock[s] secrets in ancient scrolls," to the Weaver, who "create[s] cloth fit for gods," and the Goldsmith, whose work "glitters almost as bright as our sun god Re," these portraits of dedicated craftsmen have resonance today, even as their words re-create a civilization of long ago. Endnotes provide additional factual details. (National Geographic, $16.95 32p ages 8-12 ISBN 0-7922-7560-8; Oct.)

Gifts Galore

Several familiar book friends take new forms. A board book version of Peggy Rathmann's bedtime tale of a mischievous gorilla who follows the zookeeper home comes with a plush version of the hero in a large boxed set, Good Night, Gorilla: Book and Plush. About this story, PW said, "Universally understandable subject matter and a narrative conveyed almost entirely through pictures mark this as an ideal title for beginners." (Putnam, $16.99 32p ages 1-5 ISBN 0-399-24195-7; Oct.)

Children can play-act the story of the big sister who learns to share with Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick Board Book and Finger Puppet Set by Kevin Henkes. The board book is paired with an adorable finger puppet of the playful mouse in a sturdy box. (HarperFestival, $10.99 24p ages 2-up ISBN 0-06-054078-8; Oct.)

An addition to the Lullaby Lights series, Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep: Night-Light and Book Gift Set by Joyce Dunbar, illus. by Debi Gliori, combines a miniature edition of the bedtime book first published in 1998 with a night-light featuring a warm hug between Willa and her big brother, who helps Willa get to sleep with happy thoughts about everyday things. (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $16.95 32p ages 3-7 ISBN 0-15-204756-5; Oct.)

Eric Carle's classic story with die-cut pages of the caterpillar who eats and eats—and finally becomes a butterfly—is packaged with a colorful plush version of the titular critter, in the boxed set The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book and Plush Set. (Philomel, 15.99 24p ages 1-3 ISBN 0-399-24205-8; Oct.)

Eric Carle's Very Little Library is a boxed set of three favorite board books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar; The Very Lonely Firefly, with its flashing firefly lights; and The Very Busy Spider, with its tactile spider web. (Philomel, $29.99 ages 1-3 ISBN 0-399-24204-X; Oct.)

Another trio of classic board books are collected in the boxed set Jan Brett's Little Library, which includes The Mitten, about a lost mitten that expands for all the woodland animals to share; The Hat, in which a hedgehog gets a sock stuck on his head and inadvertently starts a trend; and Gingerbread Baby, a retelling of "The Gingerbread Man." (Putnam, $23.99 ages 1-3 ISBN 0-399-24183-3; Oct.)

The Wonderful World of Disney

Children can open the Disney Storybook Music Box to play the tune "This Old Man," then choose from among five paper-over-board storybooks illustrated with stills from the classic Disney movies: Alice in Wonderland; Pinocchio; The Lion King; The Jungle Book; and Peter Pan. Included is a magnetic picture frame with a border featuring the stars from those books. (Disney Press, $12.99 24p each ages 3-7 ISBN 0-7868-3449-8; Sept.)

The Art and Flair of Mary Blair: An Appreciation by John Canemaker examines the joyful creativity and charm of one of the top artists and designers at the Walt Disney Studios. Blair created the look of many classic animated Disney films, including Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. This biography also traces her work, from her early watercolors, through her advertising and greeting card designs, plus her work on the "It's a Small World" Disney theme park attraction for the 1964 World's Fair. (Disney Editions, $40 128p all ages ISBN 0-7868-5391-3; Sept.)