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BOOK REVIEWSCHILDREN’S NONFICTIONNirv kids’ quest study bible / [edited by]Catherine DeVries. Rev. ed. LCCN2004107906. Grand Rapids : Zonderkidz,2005.HBB, 0310708788, list price: $27.99.220.5/20814. Bible--Study and teaching. xi, 1680 p. :ill. ; 23 cm.Grades 1-6. Rating : 5.The NIRV Kids’ Quest Study Bible is anexceptionally innovative Bible for children ages6-12 and is well worth the $27.99 asking price.The complete biblical text is presented in NewInternational Reader’s Version, which is asimplified version of the New InternationalVersion, making it an excellent choice foryounger readers.Special additions to this Bible include adictionary and topical index, and each chaptertells who wrote that particular book, why, when,where it was written, and why that book isspecial. Sprinkled throughout are questchallenges that encourage kids to explorefurther. Over 500 kids’ questions are answeredwith simple but complete explanations, such as‘Does God ever get tired of answering prayers?’and ‘Will I see people I love in heaven?’The use of blue for the color of the print and redfor the chapter headings and questions is quiteeye-catching, and the illustrations are cute andoften silly. Written at a third grade reading level,this Bible is an excellent choice for parentslooking for an edition of the Bible for theirchildren that is easy to understand and can beread independently.Sherri MyersScholastic first picture dictionary /[conceived and written by Genevieve de laBretesche ; illustrated by CharlotteVoake] . [et al.]. LCCN 2004052522. NewYork : Scholastic Reference, 2005.SPR, 0439719933, list price: $14.95.423’.17. English language--Dictionaries, Juvenile;Picture dictionaries, English--Juvenile literature. 107p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.Ages 2-6. Rating : 4.The Scholastic First Picture Dictionarydescribes over 800 objects with pictures,interactive riddles, and several transparentpages. Genevieve de La Bretesche wrote thebook in French, but Jennifer R. Vetter did theEnglish translation. Charlotte Voake and 16other artists offer interesting illustrations withethnically diverse people.You’ll find something for every interest.Eighteen musical instruments entice weemusicians. Farm animals, city scenes, andcamping equipment add variety. Children willlearn about computers, a DVD player,microwaves, and a stylish bike helmet. Seewhat is in a garage, a broom closet, or a garden.I especially liked the “We go to school”transparency, linked with “In the classroom.”The “We go shopping” transparency and thefood section offer universal appeal. Thedrawings possess a slight European flair.Spiral bound books are often associated withtorn pages and a short shelf life. I predict abetter future for this picture dictionary. A sturdyouter cover protects the spiral binding, and thepages are extra heavy. Moreover, the spiralbinding allows easy page turning. Children canenjoy the bright pictures all by themselves. Adda supervising adult, and you’ll promote gooddiscussion about everything from accordion tozucchini.Roberta Lou JonesSeven wonders of the modern world /Doreen Gonzales. (Seven wonders of theworld.) LCCN 2004015255. BerkeleyHeights, N.J. : Enslow Publishers, 2005.HBB, 0766052923, list price: $25.26.620. Engineering--Juvenile literature; Seven Wondersof the World--Juvenile literature; Architecture--Juvenile literature. 48 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm.Seven natural wonders of the UnitedStates and Canada / Cheryl L. DeFries.(Seven wonders of the world.) LCCN2004010072. Berkeley Heights, N.J. :Enslow Publishers, 2005.HBB, 0766052915, list price: $25.26.333.78/3/0973. National parks and reserves--UnitedStates--Juvenile literature; Natural monuments--UnitedStates--Juvenile literature; National parks andreserves--Canada--Juvenile literature; Naturalmonuments--Canada--Juvenile literature. 48 p. : col.ill. ; 24 cm.Seven wonders of the natural world / AmyGraham. (Seven wonders of the world.)LCCN 2004009085. Berkeley Heights,N.J. : Enslow Publishers, 2005.HBB, 0766052907, list price: $25.26.910/.02. Landforms--Juvenile literature; Naturalmonuments--Juvenile literature. 48 p. : col. ill. ; 24cm.Grades 4-9. Rating : 4.The author for each title in the Seven Wondersof the World Series has selected her particularseven wonders using a variety of criteria. Thewonders enumerated in the United States andCanada volume were selected because they“seemed to be the most famous and moststudied,” and include the Everglades, YosemiteNational Park, the Grand Canyon, theMississippi River, Mount McKinley, NiagaraFalls, and the Redwood Forest. Selections forModern World volume were determined by theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers, and areengineering accomplishments from around theworld such as the Panama Canal, the North SeaProtection Works, the Empire State Building,the Golden Gate Bridge, the CN Tower, theItaipu Dam, and the Channel Tunnel. Choicesfor Natural World volume include MountEverest, Victoria Falls, the Grand Canyon, theGreat Barrier Reef, the Northern Lights,Paricutin Volcano, and the Harbor of Rio deJaneiro, and were chosen because they are “themost magnificent views nature has to offer” and“remaining astonishing sights of nature.” Eachbook is complemented with colored photos andweb shots of sites recommended in the book.Bibliographic reference materials are appendedfor websites, chapter notes, and further reading.A glossary is also appended.This series is a school report series. Even thetitle announces that use. However, the series isa cut above most series titles, for the writing,while factual, is at times literary, notencyclopedic. Each “wonder” is not presentedin a template format, which is both a positiveand a negative feature, for readers won’tnecessarily find the same types of facts for each“wonder,” but will find what is most interestingabout the “wonder.” Bold headings in red add tothe usefulness for research. The feature whichmakes the series unique is the selection of andconnection to websites via the publisher’s site.While the choices are excellent, a questionremains about the long-term viability of eachsite and even the publisher’s site. Be aware alsothat there are geologic references to millions ofyears. Very useful for school and home schoolreaders doing reports.Marion MuellerGalen and the gateway to medicine / byJeanne Bendick ; pictures by the author.(Living history library.) LCCN2002108552. Bathgate, N.D. : BethlehemBooks, 2002.PAP, 1883937752, list price: $13.95.610/.937. Medicine--Philosophy--Juvenile literature;Medicine, Ancient--Juvenile literature; Medicine,Greek and Roman--Juvenile literature. xi, 131 p. : ill.; 22 cm.Grades 4-7. Rating : 4.C H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L 1 4 J U N E 2 0 0 5