I remember loving them when I was a kid, and I still love them now. They're just so interesting and attractive...I give them as gifts a lot. They're just so fun to look at.
This resonates so much with me as my boys absolutely love the Smithsonian visual encyclopedias. We went through the entirety of the animal one with all three boys (including my two year old!) and my oldest (7.5) and I just finished reading through the one on the periodic table of elements. I can safely say that I did not learn nearly as much about the periodic table in high school honors chemistry as I did while reading through this book with my uber-curious, science-loving little boy. Now, he's going through the book and finding his favorite elements and sketching images he particularly loves into his nature journal...I really can't imagine a science textbook providing the same level of delight!
That's great! Yes, we've even had to replace some of our favorites over time. Eventually the covers fall off from wear and tear! That's how you know it's a really good book.
This is great! Thank you for the resources! My two reading children really enjoy their encyclopedias and dictionaries. Recently one asked me what side of Oregon I grew up in. When I said, Eastern, she said, “Oh so you were in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains,” and hearing her say that was like she knew my whole language of childhood.
I love the blessings that come from just putting good things before our children, minimal parental effort required!
You're so lucky to find them at Goodwill! Swoon!
I remember loving them when I was a kid, and I still love them now. They're just so interesting and attractive...I give them as gifts a lot. They're just so fun to look at.
This resonates so much with me as my boys absolutely love the Smithsonian visual encyclopedias. We went through the entirety of the animal one with all three boys (including my two year old!) and my oldest (7.5) and I just finished reading through the one on the periodic table of elements. I can safely say that I did not learn nearly as much about the periodic table in high school honors chemistry as I did while reading through this book with my uber-curious, science-loving little boy. Now, he's going through the book and finding his favorite elements and sketching images he particularly loves into his nature journal...I really can't imagine a science textbook providing the same level of delight!
I will have to get the one on the elements! My sons would love that. They really are just such great books.
I still have visual memories from childhood of the one I had back then on Ancient Rome. It was huge in developing my historical imagination!
We've had lots of fun with visual encyclopedias. Even the ones we've owned for years still get picked up and thumbed through regularly.
That's great! Yes, we've even had to replace some of our favorites over time. Eventually the covers fall off from wear and tear! That's how you know it's a really good book.
Heartily agree! My sons (now 15 and 13) have learned so much from visual encyclopaedias (mostly DK books here in London). As an aspiring astrophysicist, older son always recommends his beloved DK Space encyclopaedia 2010 edition: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Visual-Encyclopedia-DK/dp/075666277X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1H6N84YOH084A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.we46n_xJBqQgWvcbNIPDiyjUN6Q4lH75SmkGB-ZEsZ9hCHU6Tkeahaw1NkBiM5I8aTwALPJM18be_sxmrvPi_sERToNqzAGCD-b14cFkAB1spCAFm-5bwTyiL-GkW7klzNH9WgZI5yfya9bggeRjd74QbdP7l_Vk8i-YSj4Hy9xpH8fhXL7Cnn7qYrYgzs_iIeaXZauD5MK6npqA0pPCIQxwcpzQ25ZKXzltqPpIcGw.4VwLbO2cqk2ZUMg-m4tIVKWhMq0Q2JNgTIml_FYFFIE&dib_tag=se&keywords=space+visual+encyclopedia&qid=1753830180&sprefix=space+visual+en%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-2
Looks like a great one! We love the DK encyclopedias.
This is great! Thank you for the resources! My two reading children really enjoy their encyclopedias and dictionaries. Recently one asked me what side of Oregon I grew up in. When I said, Eastern, she said, “Oh so you were in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains,” and hearing her say that was like she knew my whole language of childhood.
I love the blessings that come from just putting good things before our children, minimal parental effort required!
Wow, that's such a lovely anecdote! Absolutely true about giving our children good things.
We are huge fans of David Macaulay here!
His books are wonderful!