Why do stars twinkle? How does a washing machine work? Where is Burkina Faso? From A to Z and everything in between, the answers are all in the Oxford Children's Encyclopedia. Be it a school project on nuclear power, homework on the Roman empire, or a bet with your best friend on the world's longest river...The Oxford Children's Encyclopedia is the ideal companion. THE RESULT OF A UNIQUE PROGRAM OF RESEARCH! Oxford asked librarians, teachers, and parents in England to record what children wanted to look up, and the words that they used. At the same time, six major subject consultants drew up headword lists. All this information was combined to produce the final product. FRIENDLY AND INFORMAL, WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR 8-13 YEAR OLDS! All the contributors were chosen for their expertise in their particular subjects, and for their ability to write for children. To insure that the language level was exactly right, sample articles were tested in classrooms across Britain. The children also helped determine the type size and page design that they found the easiest to use. THE IDEAL INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE FOR NORTH AMERICAN CHILDREN The Encyclopedia was developed and edited in England, and therefore presents a more international point of view than most encyclopedias available in this country. For example, not only are all of the U.S. States, Capitals, and Presidents listed in one of the many appendices, but also: Rulers of England and the United Kingdom Prime Minsters of England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand States of Australia Provinces of Canada Counties of the United Kingdom Republics of the U.S.S.R. Countries of the world with their capitals A SOLID FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND THE ARTS! Research showed that children had a much more articulated need for specific words in science, technology and the life sciences, and much less so for the arts and literature. The final list of articles reflects these needs. In the sciences the topics are much more specific (hydraulics, hydro-electric power, viaducts), while in the arts the articles are longer and more general (sculpture, drama, dance, and music).