[skueppers]

When I was a kid, I loved encyclopedias. The ones at the library, and the one my parents had at home. I was always looking something up in an encyclopedia, or just browsing.

I realize that I don't need an encyclopedia for my home. Not only does the library have encyclopedias, but we also have on-line access to several encyclopedias through the local library. Yet I find myself wondering if an encyclopedia would be an enjoyable homeschooling resource...

So what do you think about encyclopedias? Do you have a printed encyclopedia in your home? Do you enjoy having it? Do your kids use it?

 

[Lillian J]

What an interesting coincidence - there was a very recent thread where the subject came up in the course of a question about Childcraft. I always loved them too!

Lillian

 

[Jenelle]

I read a thread about the Childcraft "How and Why Library" by World Book. And now I am having to hold. myself. back. from buying a beautiful set of the 2007 edition on Ebay for $189.00. (They are brand new in sealed box.)

I haven't owned a new winter coat or jacket in... I can't tell you how long. I haven't had my hair done professionally (cut or colored), for... I don't know how long. But I thought nothing of *almost* hitting the "Buy It Now" button on this set of books today!

I know, they aren't the same as encyclopedias exactly, but I have read such great things about them.

 

[LilMama23]

We have a child's encyclopedia that used to be mine when I was younger. I remember being 12 years old and reading the entire thing (all three books of it) from cover to cover, and being so proud of myself that I knew all that information.

I saved it hoping that I'd have a child who would enjoy it just as much. DD is still too young for it, but I hope that it becomes an important resource in her education.

 

[Lillian J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenelle I read a thread about the Childcraft "How and Why Library" by World Book. And now I am having to hold. myself. back. from buying a beautiful set of the 2007 edition on Ebay for $189.00. (They are brand new in sealed box.) I haven't owned a new winter coat or jacket in... I can't tell you how long. I haven't had my hair done professionally (cut or colored), for... I don't know how long. But I thought nothing of *almost* hitting the "Buy It Now" button on this set of books today! I know, they aren't the same as encyclopedias exactly, but I have read such great things about them.

Careful. It's really a personal taste thing. I paid full price for Childcraft and they were barely used. I showed them to some friends who even thought they looked much too textbook like. And yet, I had a friend who was nuts about them - both her and her two children. But you can get so many wonderful things at the library, and you can often get perfectly great used Childcraft - so when money is a big consideration, I would definitely put it off.
Lillian

 

[skueppers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillian J What an interesting coincidence - there was a very recent thread where the subject came up in the course of a question about Childcraft. I always loved them too! Lillian

Yes, I had read the Childcraft thread when it was posted (though I hadn't seen the last part, about a 1980's World Book encyclopedia). I'm not really familiar with the Childcraft, I was thinking more about something like the World Book.

 

[Lillian J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skueppers I'm not really familiar with the Childcraft, I was thinking more about something like the World Book.

Yes - very different things. I always loved having World Book - that thread has a link to the webpage on library sales where you might be able to pick up a good used set (and I've seen them in classified ads too) unless you want to spring for a new one. We bought new, and got the annual update supplements, but we didn't tend to use the updates because we weren't usually looking up things that called for recent information. Lillian

 

[vintagetroll]

I wish I could stop at just one set of encyclopedias. I am a die hard thrifter though, so I have yet to pay more than 10 bucks an entire set. So far we have an Animal set, a childrens Encyclopedia Brittanica, a Encyclopedia of Science and Inventions, several sets of Childrens literature collections. I have passed up several sets of the Charlie Brown and Disney ones, but for young kids they would be neat, we just already have redundant material

I love having everything here at their fingertips, even though I always have google as backup. But if you are willing to spend some time thrifting most thrift stores want the sets out as quickly as possible, they take up tons of space, so they usually don't charge very much at all.

 

[Jackpackbaby]

WOW! Did you guys see the 2009 Spinescape edition of the World Book encyclopedia?? It is gorgeous!