THE JULIAN MESSNER ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE

An inexpensive, colorful science dictionary marred by inaccuracies, omissions, and the brevity of many definitions. For example: Ape is defined as ""a large type of monkey without a tail."" Monkey is defined as: ""any one of the small long-tailed primates."" The gestation period for an elephant is given as three years, contrary to most sources which state two. Opium is defined as: ""made from the milky juice found in the seed of the opium poppy."" Most sources describe opium as a milky juice obtained from the immature seed capsule of the opium poppy. Some definitions don't give sufficient information. Spore is defined as: ""a special reproductive cell, produced in large numbers by certain plants""; albino as: ""any animal or plant that lacks normal color."" Almost any definition sends the reader into a frustrating search which ends in puzzlement. A high-quality, inexpensive science dictionary would have great appeal for public and school library use. This is not the one.