Timelines of everything

Gr 7 Up-The volume, produced by Smithsonian and DK, traces the most notable developments of each era, from dinosaurs and the dawn of humanity to the invention of the wheel to ancient Greece and Egypt, from famous empires and revolutions to modern wars, technology and politics-it's all here in capsule form. Smithsonian rarely undertakes anything small, and this hefty volume is no exception. To say that this work is an undertaking of epic proportions is an understatement-it provides time lines from prehistory (before 3,000 BCE) to what it calls the "modern world" (1914 and after). It's a lot to take in, but DK's signature design breaks the content into reasonably digestible sections. It's a beautifully illustrated work, if a bit condensed owing to the necessary brevity. A glossary describes potentially challenging words and concepts (apartheid, glasnost, tsar, paganism), and the pages are eye-catching, with notable highlights and appropriate illustrative materials. VERDICT An ideal coffee-table browsing book for upper middle school or high school students.