The Children’s Book Review | September 19, 2019
DK Smithsonian Timelines of Everything
Created by DK
Age Range: 9 and up
Publisher: DK Penguin Random House (2018)
ISBN: 978-1-4654-7493-3
What to Expect: Global history, geography, science, technology, engineering, and culture
In these days of extensive online everything, an encyclopedia needs to be really special to be effective. After all, how many children will take the time to leaf through hundreds of paper entries when they can find information with the click of a mouse? The DK Smithsonian Timelines of Everything gets around this difficulty through innovative design, first-class expertly researched information, and an astonishing range and breadth of interconnected topics.
The DK Smithsonian Timelines of Everything presents information in the form of a chronologically ordered set of time-lines, ranging from the events of pre-history through to the modern world, and drawn from cultures all over the world. The collection is split into four sections which clearly delineate the different stages of human development: pre-History in which there were no humans, the ancient world when civilization first began, the medieval world, the “age of exploration”, the “age of revolution”, and finally the modern world. By organizing the information in this manner, readers are given a sense of human progress, and how not only has history repeated itself but also how human beings have learned and developed over time. The timelines themselves are not only detailed but fun as well, making use of the signature DK style of detailed illustration drawn from real-life artefacts, historical documents and images, and bespoke artwork. Research online can be limiting: the child clicks straight through to the information he or she needs, and there may be little motivation to explore any further. This encyclopedia, with its chain-effect organization, encourages further exploration simply for the joy of following a knowledge trail. It would make a beautiful gift, or classroom aid, or home learning resource.
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About the Author
DK was founded in London in 1974 and is now the world leading illustrated reference publisher and a member of the Penguin Random House division of Bertelsmann. DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children. DK produces content for consumers in over 100 countries and over 60 languages, with offices in the UK, India, US, Germany, China, Canada, Spain and Australia.
DK’s aim is to inspire, educate and entertain readers of all ages, and everything DK publishes, whether print or digital, embodies the unique DK design approach. DK brings unrivalled clarity to a wide range of topics, with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect. We have a reputation for innovation in design for both print and digital products.
Our adult range spans travel, including the award-winning DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, history, science, nature, sport, gardening, cookery and parenting.
DK’s extensive children’s list showcases a fantastic store of information for children, toddlers and babies. DK covers everything from animals and the human body, to homework help and craft activities, together with an impressive list of licensing titles, including the best-selling LEGO® books.
DK acts as the parent company for Alpha Books, publisher of the Idiot’s Guides series.
For more information, visit: https://www.dk.com/
DK Smithsonian Timelines of Everything was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like DK Smithsonian Timelines of Everything by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Climate Change Books, Environmental, Global Warming, Lily Williams, Non-Fiction, Picture Book, and Polar Bears.
