The incredible diversity of life on Earth--from microscopic single-celled organisms to giant redwoods and blue whales-is studied in more than 1,000 stunning photographs and illustrations. The introductory section, "A Planet Apart," guides the reader through the formation of the planet and the beginning of life, to evolution and animal and plant life today. The second section, "The Living World," introduces the kingdoms of life on the planet, from microscopic life, through plants to animals. The third and main section of the book, "Wildlife Habitats," takes a detailed look at the world's habitats, with "species features" that focus on animals and plants that are of particular interest, such as the vampire squid and the bristlecone pine. Grade 5-9–Three major sections discuss the formation of the Earth, the biosphere, and climate change; focus on life from microscopic plants through the shapes, senses, and categories of animals, including habitats; and consider biomes. Highly detailed color photography, including many full-page, spectacular spreads, illuminates the concepts and discussions. Clear, colorful diagrams explain the unseen processes of nature, as reflected in the digestive system of the carnivorous climbing pitcher plant or the communication of fireflies. Most noticeably different from Burnie's The Kingfisher IllustratedAnimal Encyclopedia (2000) is the way in which information is presented; in Nature the treatment is more encyclopedic; in Animal , concise summaries are more typical. The volume concludes with an extensive index, a limited glossary of approximately 120 words, and a reference to 10 authoritative Web sites. Navigation of these sites will be easiest for students who have had solid instruction in search methods. The DK Nature Encyclopedia (1998) covers the same material, but for a slightly younger audience. –Tina Hudak, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Riverdale Park, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. David Burnie is an accomplished zoologist who was a nature reserve ranger before becoming a natural history author and editor. A prolific writer of many books, including several on dinosaurs, he has seen many of his titles win educational awards and science prizes. His titles for Kingfisher include Kingfisher Knowledge: Endangered Planet and The Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia, which was nominated for the Aventis Prize for Science Books in 2002.