Endangered Planet

Sunday Times

. . . packed with information and superb images. They are great weapons to have in your homework-busting amoury

Synopsis

Kingfisher Knowledge is a groundbreaking new series for readers hungry for information on today's hot topics. Lively, engaging text, packed with information, accompanies stunning photographs that enhance each chapter. Amazing, state-of-the-art digital artwork guides readers into the fascinating heart of the subject. This learning adventure does not stop there - information panels throughout lead the reader to further discovery. Each chapter offers website links, book lists, places to visit and career information. Endongered Planet is a timely examination of the health of the ecosytems that support life on Earth. Today, humans influence every habitat in the world. From the local activities of tribes in New Guinea to the global impact of ever-expanding cities, natural cycles have been altered to meet human demands. Now the Earth is at risk as never before - dozens of species are wiped out each year, coasts and oceans are fouled with massive spills of oil, grasslands and forests are destroyed to feed the insatiable appetite of modern agriculture. With time running out, this book is an essential reminder of our responsibilities to safeguard our fragile home.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8 - These selections complement one another by offering two contrasting perspectives of life on Earth. Planet presents a global picture of how humanity affects the world at large whereas Life explores Earth's tiniest creatures and their impact on humankind. Children will be immediately drawn to the high-quality graphics artfully laid out on brightly colored spreads. The photographs in the first volumesuccessfully depict people, habitats, and animals around the world, raising global awareness, while the captivating scanning electron micrographs in the second book showcase the unseen creepy critters that surround us. The narratives are logically arranged into three chapters, each containing a broad overview as well as more detailed subtopics. Each level of text is complete, enabling children of different ages to access the information they seek. Although a couple of the charts in Planet are confusing at first glance, close examination of the text clarifies their meaning. Fans of the "Eyewitness Books" (DK) will feel at home with these offerings, and teachers may find that the connection and arrangement of concepts here is more conducive to learning.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　- Jenna Miller, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

Book Dimension
Height (mm) 282 Width (mm) 237

Sunday Times

. . . packed with information and superb images. They are great weapons to have in your homework-busting amoury

Synopsis

Kingfisher Knowledge is a groundbreaking new series for readers hungry for information on today's hot topics. Lively, engaging text, packed with information, accompanies stunning photographs that enhance each chapter. Amazing, state-of-the-art digital artwork guides readers into the fascinating heart of the subject. This learning adventure does not stop there - information panels throughout lead the reader to further discovery. Each chapter offers website links, book lists, places to visit and career information. Endongered Planet is a timely examination of the health of the ecosytems that support life on Earth. Today, humans influence every habitat in the world. From the local activities of tribes in New Guinea to the global impact of ever-expanding cities, natural cycles have been altered to meet human demands. Now the Earth is at risk as never before - dozens of species are wiped out each year, coasts and oceans are fouled with massive spills of oil, grasslands and forests are destroyed to feed the insatiable appetite of modern agriculture. With time running out, this book is an essential reminder of our responsibilities to safeguard our fragile home.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8 - These selections complement one another by offering two contrasting perspectives of life on Earth. Planet presents a global picture of how humanity affects the world at large whereas Life explores Earth's tiniest creatures and their impact on humankind. Children will be immediately drawn to the high-quality graphics artfully laid out on brightly colored spreads. The photographs in the first volumesuccessfully depict people, habitats, and animals around the world, raising global awareness, while the captivating scanning electron micrographs in the second book showcase the unseen creepy critters that surround us. The narratives are logically arranged into three chapters, each containing a broad overview as well as more detailed subtopics. Each level of text is complete, enabling children of different ages to access the information they seek. Although a couple of the charts in Planet are confusing at first glance, close examination of the text clarifies their meaning. Fans of the "Eyewitness Books" (DK) will feel at home with these offerings, and teachers may find that the connection and arrangement of concepts here is more conducive to learning.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　- Jenna Miller, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

Book Dimension
Height (mm) 282 Width (mm) 237

1-7 Prelims
8-9 Chapter One: What is spying? 10-11 Obtaining information
12-13 Surveillance and sabotage
14-15 Counter-espionage
16-17 Spy catching
18-19 Industrial espionage (secrets for sale)
20 Summary
21 Chapter 2: Spys, spymasters and secret services
22-23 Introduction
24-25 The first spies
26-27 Spies at war (modern spies)
28-29 Recruiting spies
30-31 Double agents, moles and defectors
32-33 The world's great spymasters
34-35 Secret services
36 Summary
37 Chapter 3: Spy techniques and equipment
38-39 Introduction
40-41 Getting a message back
42-43 Code makers and breakers
44-45 Listening in
46-47 Eye spy
48-49 Disguise and cover
50-51 The art of concealment
52-53 Swapping information
54-55 Secret weapons
56-57 Silicon and stealth spies
58-59 Silicon spies
60-61 Glossary
62-63 Index
64 Acknowledgements