21st Century Children's Encyclopedia

Author: (English) Jasti, edited by Guo Jixian, translated by others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-09-01
Features: Over 3,500 entries, more than 2,000 color illustrations, and user-friendly A-Z arrangement. The beautiful color images and maps encourage readers to make more discoveries and enjoy the process; the main illustrations are magnified to show details clearly; clear annotations help even the most complex charts; striking, lifelike photographs bring the subject to life; varied information boxes and data boxes contain important dates, significant events, amazing facts, and other basic information; special sections with colored borders highlight key areas to expand the topic; cross-reference columns guide readers to other related topics in the book. The 1999 revised edition of the "21st Century Children's Encyclopedia" introduced by Guangdong Education Press from the UK Kingfisher Company is a new reference book for children over 8 years old. From ancient human civilizations like Mesopotamia to the latest technological developments like Dolly the cloned sheep, it covers everything. This encyclopedia includes over 3,500 entries and more than 2,000 color illustrations. The entire book is arranged in alphabetical order, with a specially compiled Chinese category index and bilingual (Chinese-English) thematic headings for easy use and English learning. It uses short paragraphs that are easy for young readers to understand while maintaining content continuity. Rich and compact illustrations, high-quality photographs, and detailed maps bring vitality to every page, attracting readers to explore the book for more discoveries. Additionally, there are 12 pages of "Discoverers" at the back, presented in tables, diagrams, and timelines, providing detailed information on major events and key figures. Whether used for homework or casual browsing, children will be drawn to its friendly style. This encyclopedia has been thoroughly researched, edited, and reviewed by a team of over 50 experts and consultants, each an authority in their respective fields. Throughout the book, except for a few entries, the editors maintain a basically scientific and objective stance. They strive to convey more and newer information within limited space. For example, when describing Dolly the cloned sheep, the editors do not use sensational language but simply include a photo of Dolly in the "Genetics" section with a very straightforward caption: "Dolly is a cloned (artificial asexual reproduction) sheep created from cells taken from another adult sheep. This means the two sheep have identical genes." They accurately present the facts of this remarkable scientific achievement without the kind of embellishment often found in news media, avoiding the imposition of value judgments—this century's value judgments—on young readers. This objective approach leaves ample room for reflection for readers entering the 21st century. Of course, like other encyclopedias edited by Westerners, this one occasionally reflects Eurocentric biases, despite the publisher's repeated claims of having made efforts to accommodate various cultural needs worldwide (such efforts naturally have commercial considerations). Some entries in the original book do not align with China's realities, and Guangdong Education Press has revised them in the Chinese translation. However, the principle of revision is to retain as much of the original information as possible while modifying text that directly contradicts Chinese laws, rather than simply copying and pasting domestic textbook content for individual entries.