Full Text Review(s)
"This detailed encyclopedia set focuses on the 22 countries that make up Eastern Asia. The history of each nation is covered thoroughly and is up to date. The other areas that are covered include the economy (including natural resources), people and languages, government, religions, festivals, climate, education and health, architecture and housing, food and culture. A timeline appears on the opening pages, and many fact boxes highlight unique characteristics of the country. Color photographs break up the text and add to the information. The lengths of the entries varies, but the minimal entry is at least seven pages. The longest entries (China, India, and Indonesia) are more than 50 pages each. This set would be a good way to update a collection with accurate information about these Eastern Asian countries. This set of encyclopedias will be a useful addition to the library collection for student research. Bibliography. Timeline Glossary. Web sites. Index. Recommended."

"This set is a thorough portrait of the countries that comprise the eastern section of Asia, a region of diverse history and heritage. An introduction in volume 1 summarizes the region’s history, setting the stage for a better understanding of what follows. Entries are arranged alphabetically by country in volumes 1 through 10; volume 11 contains indexing and other material.

In each country entry, color relief maps indicate the capital, major cities and rivers, and prominent landforms, and a hemisphere map locates the country in its continent Several color-coded side boxes highlight general information at a glance, geographical and statistical data, average temperatures for January and July, annual precipitation. A time line extends along the bottom of each page. Text for each country captures the past and the present, detailing the pertinent historical dynamics as well as the land and the people (cross-referencing is used when an ethnic group crosses country boundaries). Information on culture abounds, including, but not limited to, religion, clothing, houses, family life, national holidays and festivals, health and education, food and drink, and the arts. Entries range in length from 5 pages for East Timor to more than 80 pages (spread over two volumes) for China. India and Indonesia each have their own volume. Sprinkling the crisp white pages are numerous illustrations, most of them in color.

Individual volumes conclude with a glossary, an index, and a bibliography of useful books and Internet sites. Volume 11 contains the set index along with a plethora of additional reference information: a comprehensive bibliography of general reference works, magazines, regional nonfiction, biography, autobiography and memoirs, Web sites, and fictional sources; (a wonderful feature); musical sources; a pronunciation guide; a list of national days; and several thematic indexes.

Best suited for upper-elementary- and middle-school students, this reference set is highly recommended for school and public libraries. It is user-friendly, interesting to read, concise yet thorough, and visual appealing."

"This handsome, alphabetically arranged set covers the countries ranging from India in the West to the island nations of the western Pacific, and from Mongolia southward through Indonesia. China, India, and Indonesia each occupy a volume or more, in contrast to the six pages devoted to East Timor. The entries open with a brief geographical introduction and map, a facts and figures box, and information on the nation’s history with a time line running along the bottom of the page. The text then discusses the people, minority populations, lifestyles, religion, jobs, foods (often including a recipe), transportation, health, education, architecture, the performing and visual arts, literature, recreation, and festivals. Frequent boxes expand the material, with one per entry on the climate and another usually a pronunciation guide to common expressions. Numerous full-color and archival black-and-white photographs lend appeal. Each volume has its own "Further Reading" list and index, while the final volume includes comprehensive and subject-specific indexes and additional further-reading suggestions. Country series such as "Cultures of the World" (Marshall Cavendish) include similar information, with added material on the government and environment; for libraries that cannot afford individual books or for those with high demand, this useful set is reliable"