The World Book Encyclopedia 2008 contains all of the aspects of an encyclopedia that one would expect in print reference material; bold headings, some colour photographs, clear, detailed information on specific topics, etc. However, I found the font to be a bit small for young readers and more white space on the page would be less intimidating. The information appears to be relatively current and the entire set was well laid out. ( )

World Book print encyclopedia - Volume 22 Research Guide & Index. I decided to take a look at the research guide and index as I don't believe I ever have. I was surprised to learn about the information contained in this reference book and the comprehensive Index that really does allow for easy access to topics being researched. Also, a Student Guide to Better Writing is found at the beginning of the book. ( )

I have to admit that it has been a while since I have used a print encyclopedia. On first glance, I liked the Cityscape cover. It felt more modern than the encyclopedias I have seen in past. Inside, the paper was bright and text was clear. Perhaps the font is a bit small for some readers (likely only 8 or 9 point font). There were lots of features in this World Book including graphs, tables, photos, symbols, bold print, maps and pronciation guide which made the encyclopedia more engaging to read and supported the reader's understanding of content.

World Book has created a very usable encyclopedia. The pages are well populated with photos, charts and maps which make the smallish text less intimidating. The 2008 set still has a fresh, current feel two years after its publication. ( )