Press Releases

 

World Book Library of Natural Disasters helps students
understand the power of nature

From hurricanes and heat waves to droughts, blizzards and pandemics, World Book’s latest titles give students a greater understanding of the science behind nature

CHICAGO – September 24, 2007 – Whether students are trying to make sense of the latest storm damage to their town or a catastrophe on the other side of the globe, World Book Inc.’s latest resource, World Book Natural Disasters, expands their understanding and learning.

Designed for students in primary through middle school, World Book Natural Disasters is a multi-volume set that explains the science behind natural disasters using rich text and visuals to illustrate the powerful force of nature and its potentially devastating effects. Important learning tools include fact boxes highlighting key concepts and hands-on activities to allow students to use science to understand natural phenomena.  

Titles in the 15-volume, 720-page World Book Natural Disasters set include:

• Forces of Nature
• Blizzards
• Droughts
• Earthquakes
• Forest Fires
• Floods
• Heat Waves
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, & Other Tropical Cyclones
• Ice Storms
• Landslides, Mudslides & Avalanches
• Pandemics
• Thunderstorms
• Tornadoes
• Tsunamis and Seiches
• Volcanoes

“World Book is known for its ability to draw students into the learning experience with resources that are visually appealing, written with the interest and learning level of the student foremost in mind and based on well researched and authoritative information,” said World Book President Paul Gazzolo. “Natural Disasters is the latest examples of how effective this approach is in helping students excel.”

Ordering Information

The 15-volume World Book Natural Disasters (ISBN 978-0-7166-9801-2) retails for $329, including shipping and handling.  Online subscription, volume and institutional discounts also are available.  Schools and libraries can order online at discount from the World Book Online store.  They also can order from their World Book sales representative or by calling 800-975-3250 (U.S.) or 800-837-5365 (Canada).

About World Book

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults. Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery. This commitment has resulted in a wide range of products including the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center, World Book Kids, and the recently-launched World Book Advanced.  World Book (www.worldbook.com) is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book Video Contest Has Students Winning Cool Stuff for Cluing Each Other in on Trustworthy Information Online

Upload videos to World Book through November 30, 2007 to win prizes including a MacBook, video iPods and a digital video camera

CHICAGO – September 24, 2007 – With many students’ first research reports of the new school year now coming due, they may be realizing just how difficult it is to find trustworthy information online.  Those with a good idea of what makes a site a reliable source, though, can enter the World Book Fact or Fiction? Student Video Contest for the chance to win cool electronics for themselves and their school.

The contest is open to students in elementary school, high school, and college.  Students are asked to submit videos of two minutes or less that creatively communicate how to know if a site is reliable, following the ABCs of evaluating Web sites:

• Are the authors of the information accountable and authoritative? 
• Do the authors lack bias? 
• Is the content current?

World Book Fact or Fiction? Student Video Contestsubmissions are being accepted through November 30, 2007 at http://videocontest.worldbook.com.  Students then get to vote for their favorite video December 1, 2007 through January 7, 2008. Winners will be announced in January 2008.  The creator of the top vote-getting video will win a MacBook and his or her school will receive a digital video recorder.  Creators of the second and third top vote-getting videos in each of three categories (kindergarten through eighth grade, ninth through 12th grades, and post-secondary) will win video iPods.

Complete rules for the site and submission guidelines are available at http://videocontest.worldbook.com  Also on the site are helpful tips on creating a clever and interesting video entry from Rhett and Link, the frequent YouTube contributors and now co-hosts of the television show Online Nation, which debuted this week on the CW.

 “Students know firsthand the frustration of searching for trustworthy information online now have their chance through the World Book Fact or Fiction? video contest to highlight what it is they want from online resources,” said Patti Ginnis, chief marketing officer for World Book. 

About World Book

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has resulted in a wide range of products including the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as the World Book Online Reference Center, World Book Kids, and the recently-launched World Book Advanced.  World Book (www.worldbook.com) is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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All trademark names are the copyright of their respective owner.

New World Book Advanced Integrates
Primary, Secondary Source Databases

Online Reference and Research Tool for Older Students

CHICAGO – June 25, 2007 – Whether students want to learn more about Charles Dickens or read Great Expectations; explore the history of World War II or see a facsimile of the statement of surrender of Japan; build an interactive timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life or capture images of the civil rights movement, they can rely on World Book Advanced. The new World Book Advanced, a part of the World Book Online Complete Suite (www.worldbookonline.com), provides students with a powerful research tool that integrates encyclopedia, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases.

A key feature of World Book Advanced is its integrated content, allowing students to search across a vast collection of primary source documents, e-books, and encyclopedia articles as well as multimedia elements, editor-selected Web sites, current magazine selections, and more. Additionally, customizable interfaces and personalized content allow users to create and save information on World Book Advanced, including research notes, compilations, citations, and timelines. 

“Students today have high expectations for ready access to the information they need and World Book Advanced has been developed specifically to meet these expectations,” said Patti Ginnis, chief marketing officer of World Book.  “In addition to extensive primary and secondary source content, World Book Advanced also features many useful research tools including an interactive Timeline Builder, a one-click multimedia search, and a stored My Research page, all of which keep students engaged in the research process and help them to find, manage, and use information in the way that best meets their needs.”

Tailored for the research needs of more advanced students, the site’s content is correlated to state and provincial curriculum and achievement standards.  It also includes lesson plans for teaching with primary sources, questions, and discussion guides, providing educators with a ready tool for enriching classroom learning.

World Book Advanced joins the company’s growing portfolio of online reference tools, which also includes World Book Kids, a multimedia-rich site for younger readers; World Book Online Reference Center, the premier reference resource for information-seekers of all ages; and Spanish Student Discovery Encyclopedia, for students studying Spanish and native speakers of Spanish. 

Subscribing to World Book Advanced

World Book Advanced is available now.  Schools and libraries interested in subscribing should contact their World Book representative at 800-975-3250 (U.S.) or 800-837-5365 (Canada).

About World Book

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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EDITORS NOTE: Members of the media interested in accessing World Book Advanced for review should contact Mary Jung at 773-429-0940, mtjung@msn.com.

 

World Book Announces Publication of Chinese-language
Version of The World Book Encyclopedia

Published by Hainan Publishing House, the 20-volume Chinese-language version of World Bookprovides Chinese-speaking  students with a leading resource to explore their world; extends World Book’s worldwide reach as an essential learning tool.

CHICAGO and BEIJING – May 17, 2007 – World Book, Inc. today announced the global launch of the Chinese-language version of The World Book Encyclopedia.  The 20-volume edition, published by Hainan Publishing House, Haikou, China, is available to schools, libraries, and families in China as well as Chinese speakers worldwide. 

“China is a very fast-growing market and Chinese is spoken by more than one billion people around the world.  We’re pleased to work with Hainan Publishing Houseto provide readers and learners of Chinese with an authoritative, wide-ranging, and understandable encyclopedia,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book, at the official unveiling ceremony for the Chinese-language version of The World Book Encyclopedia in Beijing, where he was joined by Yuan Da-Chuan, head of Hainan Publishing House, and Dick Dell, World Book’s director of international rights and licensing.

“Just as World Book has become an essential learning tool in North America and across the globe over the past 90 years, we expect it to become an important resource in helping Chinese-speaking students further explore their world,” Gazzolo said.

The Chinese-language set is the result of a ten-year effort.  A Chinese editorial staff working in Beijing and in Changsha, the capital of China’s Hunan province, translated more than 17,000 articles from the English-language World Book Encyclopedia. The Chinese-language version also features more than 27,500 photos and illustrations, along with three forms of indexing: English, Chinese, and bilingual for readers of both languages.

The Chinese-language version of The World Book Encyclopedia joins three existing foreign-language World Book Encyclopedia editions: a Korean-language edition, published by Woongjin Publishing, Seoul, South Korea; an Arabic-language edition, published by Encyclopedia Works Cultural Publishing Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and a Malaysian-language edition, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Other World Book titles are published in more than 16 languages around the world.

Ordering and Availability

Hainan Publishing House (http://www.hnbook.com) is the exclusive distributor of the Chinese-language version of The World Book Encyclopedia in China.  In the rest of the world, schools and libraries interested in the Chinese-language World Book Encyclopedia can contact their World Book sales representative (http://www.worldbook.com).

About World Book

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center and World Book Kids.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book Spotlight on Earth: “the Living Planet” Explores the Planet’s Resilience and vulnerability as Earth Day 2007 Approaches

World Book’s free, interactive site offers students a solid understanding of the world in which they live —how it has changed, is changing, and how they are affecting its future.

CHICAGO – April 3, 2007 – Earth may be a only small part of the universe, but it is home to all known living things, and in preparation for Earth Day, April 22, 2007, World Book, Inc. (www.worldbook.com) is showcasing the planet in a free, multi-faceted content spotlight, “Earth: The Living Planet” (http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/).  The Earth content spotlight provides students, educators, and families with a detailed account of the geography, geophysical history, ecology, and exploration of the planet. 

The site offers a comprehensive understanding of why Earth is able to support life, how the planet has changed over time, and what geologists and other earth scientists have learned as they’ve uncovered Earth’s history.  Biographies of scientists who have studied the planet, including British geologist Sir Charles Lyell, German mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner, and Scottish geologist James Hutton, inspire students and teach them about how different sciences apply to the study of the planets.  The World Book Earth site also provides a detailed account of people’s impact on the planet.

Maps, interactive quizzes, illustrations, and photographs support the information presented.  Students are encouraged to explore further through links to dozens of government, university, and science Web sites reviewed by World Book editors. 

“By considering a multi-faceted explanation of Earth, readers gain a well-rounded understanding of the planet, from its formation to how we affect our planet through our daily lives,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book. “While this understanding is generally important, it’s particularly good background as educators begin focusing on Earth Day studies.”

The World Book Earth spotlight also ties to state curriculum standards.

About World Book Online

The World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) is the premier online encyclopedia for students and educators.  World Book’s direct, easy-to-understand writing style and media-rich environment make it the ideal reference site for learners of all ages. The World Book Concise Encyclopedia (www.worldbook.com) provides students and their families with ready reference from home.

Earth: The Living Planet is one of dozens of World Book Content Spotlights (http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/) available at no charge and designed to bring alive topics for students, prompting them to explore areas that they may not have known they had an interest in.   

About World Book

Celebrating in 2007 the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book’s Latest Animals of The World Set
Appeals to Children’s Curiosity While
Teaching them About the Animal Kingdom

Clear, easy-to-understand information about each animal’s appearance, habitat, and behavior has made the Animals of the World series a hit with students, educators, and parents. This latest 10-volume set covers horses, turtles, parrots, sporting dogs, carp, rabbits, tarantulas, hermit crabs, short-haired cats, and guinea pigs.

CHICAGO – March 15, 2007 – For the millions of children that have wondered how horses “greet” each other, how to tell if a dog is not feeling well, or why bunnies have long ears, World Book, Inc. provides answers to these questions and more in the latest set in its award-winning Animals of the World series.  Animals of the World set 5 includes 10 volumes, with each title providing easy-to-comprehend, visually appealing information about a different animal species:

• Arabians and Other Horses
• Box Turtles and Other Pond and Marsh Turtles
• Cockatiels and Other Parrots
• Golden Retrievers and Other Sporting Dogs
• Goldfish and Other Carp
• Holland Lops and Other Rabbits
• Pinktoes and Other Tarantulas
• Purple Pinchers and Other Hermit Crabs
• Siamese and Other Short-haired Cats
• Silkies and Other Guinea Pigs

Ideal for future zoologists, biologists, veterinarians, or just inquisitive children in the primary through middle grades, each book in the Animals of the World series includes instructive animal classification charts to show students where the featured animal fits into the Animal Kingdom as well as detailed information about each animal’s appearance, habitat, and behavior, reinforced with full-color pictures, maps, and illustrations.  A detailed table of contents, glossary, and index help to ensure that readers get the most out of each book, and a list of additional print and Web site resources encourages students to explore further.

“As every educator and parent knows, children have a natural curiosity about animals.  Animals of the World provides a quick source for answers to commonly asked questions, rewarding children’s interest with information that fosters their understanding and appreciation of the Animal Kingdom,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.

Ordering Information

The 10-volume Animals of the World set 5 (ISBN 20195) retails for $174.99, including shipping and handling. Special pricing is available for anyone having purchased one or more sets of Animals of the World sets 1-4 or those purchasing all five sets (50 volumes) of Animals of the World; volume and institutional discounts also are available. Schools and libraries in the United States and Canada can order the products from their World Book sales representative or by calling 800-975-3250 (U.S.) or 800-837-5365 (Canada). Consumers can purchase Animals of the World set 5 at the World Book Store or by calling 800-967-5325.

About World Book

Celebrating in 2007 the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book wants you to be the Judge:

Help Choose the Design for the 2008 Encyclopedia

World Book invites you to voice your choice for the 2008 World Book Encyclopedia Spinescape through April 30, 2007; eligible voters also will be entered into a drawing to win a set of The 2008 World Book Encyclopedia, featuring the winning Spinescape.

CHICAGO – March 20, 2007 – For many years, World Book featured a classic leather binding on its venerable World Book Encyclopedia sets.  In 1999, the company revolutionized encyclopedia publishing with its trademark Spinescape, a method of printing a unique image across the spine of the 22-volume set.  Now, 90 years after the World Book Encyclopedia was first published, millions of readers will choose the Spinescape for the 2008 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia in World Book’s You Be the Judge event, being held online at http://vote.worldbook.com. 

Better than a reality show, because all volumes of the set get to stay, bibliophiles from around the world will vote for their favorite Spinescape among four finalists, each of which draws readers in through rich imagery and encourages them to learn and explore more about their world:

• Face of Culture depicts masks from around the world, including ancient Rome, the Mayan civilization, the Congo region of Africa, and 18th century Asia.

• Global City showcases a composite urban skyline in honor of the fact that for the first time in history the majority of people on the planet now live in cities.

• Microscopic World captures up-close views of the natural world and brings them to life in a way not possible with the naked eye.

• Urban Travel features such modes of transportation as car, subway, airplane…and foot.

“For decades, World Book has communicated with readers about topics and entries in the encyclopedia,” said Patti Ginnis, chief marketing officer of World Book.  “Now, in addition to having input on what goes inside the encyclopedia, readers also will have a voice about the outside imagery.“

Votes can be cast at http://vote.worldbook.com through April 30, 2007.  The winning Spinescape will be posted on the World Book site on August 1, 2007.  TheWorld Book Encyclopedia 2008 featuring the winning Spinescape will be on sale in August 2007.  Voters also can enter a drawing to win The World Book Encyclopedia 2008.  See the World Book web site for further detail.

About World Book

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book Spotlight on Black History Showcases
Struggles and Contributions of African Americans

Students have the opportunity to explore and learn about the African American experience through World Book’s free, interactive Black History site.

CHICAGO – February 2, 2007 – In honor of Black History month, World Book, Inc. (www.worldbook.com) has introduced an in-depth Black History Content Spotlight (http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/) available free online.  The World Book Black History spotlight provides students, educators, and families with an overview of the history of the African Americans’ struggle for freedom as well as the many contributions they have made in shaping the United States and the world.

The site offers a comprehensive examination of the African American journey to freedom and equality, beginning with the slave trade and continuing through the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s and beyond.  The World Book Black History site also celebrates the contributions African Americans have made to American culture overall, including African American literature and its role in exploring black identity, the condemnation of racism, the celebration of the unique aspects of African American culture, and the tremendous role of African Americans in creating American music. 

Among the dozens of influential African Americans profiled are W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Alice Walker, and Richard Wright.

Additionally, the site includes interactive quizzes, illustrations, and photographs to reinforce learning as well as dozens of editor-reviewed Web-site links that help students explore subjects further, including links to government, university, and civil rights organizations.

“The Black History spotlight allows students to explore on their own,  provides a learning tool teachers and librarians can use to inspire their students, and offers a foundation to spark thought-provoking discussions in the classroom and at home,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book. “All our Content Spotlights, like Black History, provide age-appropriate, balanced information, using text and media to make learning more interesting and engaging for students.”

The World Book Black History site also ties to state curriculum standards.

About World Book Online

The World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) is the premier online encyclopedia for students and educators.  World Book’s direct, easy-to-understand writing style and media-rich environment make it the ideal reference site for learners of all ages. The World Book Concise Encyclopedia (www.worldbook.com) provides students and their families with ready reference from home.

Black History is one of dozens of World Book Content Spotlight (http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/) areas available at no charge and designed to bring alive topics for students, prompting them to explore areas that they may not have known they had an interest in.   

About World Book

Celebrating in 2007 the 90th anniversary of the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while leveraging the advantages of online delivery.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products which include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading digital products as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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World Book Appoints Executives to Lead

Marketing initiatives and International Sales

CHICAGO, ILL. – January 4, 2007 – World Book, Inc. today announced the appointments of Patti Ginnis to chief marketing officer and Ben Hinton to managing director of international sales, reinforcing the educational reference publisher’s commitment to further extend its industry leadership and supporting its mission to be an essential learning tool for students and families worldwide.

Ginnis has more than 15 years of experience in marketing and a strong background in the educational reference publishing industry.  Most recently she was senior vice president of sales and marketing for Encyclopedia Britannica and previously vice president of e-commerce.  She also served in product management positions and was instrumental in building the company’s e-commerce presence.  She holds a B.A. from Illinois State University.

Before joining World Book, Hinton worked in roles of increasing responsibility for the global reference publisher Thomson Gale.  He began his career at Thomson Gale Australia (now Thomson Learning Australia) managing customer and product matters throughout the Pacific Rim.  He also has held technical sales roles in the U.S. and marketing and sales management roles, where he was responsible for increasing Gale’s international market share, revenue, and customer awareness for both print and digital products.  Hinton holds a Bachelor’s of Information Technology (Commerce) from Australian National University. 

At World Book, Ginnis will be responsible for leading World Book’s digital product strategy across all markets, while Hinton will focus on expanding World Book’s presence in strategic markets world wide.  Both Ginnis and Hinton are members of the World Book Executive Committee, reporting directly to World Book President Paul Gazzolo, and will be based in World Book’s Chicago headquarters.

“This is an exciting time for the publishing industry and for our company.  We’ve introduced a record number of innovative products in the last year and there are many more to come in 2007 and beyond,” said Gazzolo.  “Patti’s and Ben’s strong records of achievement and deep experience make them the right people to lead these efforts and will help World Book reach a great many more students, families, and educators around the world.”

About World Book

Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2007, World Book, Inc. sets the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading electronic products as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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From Jesus Christ to George Clooney, New 2007 World Book

Highlights A World of Change

90th Anniversary Edition is Essential Resource for Schools, Libraries and Families

CHICAGO, ILL. – January 4, 2007 – Recognizing the significant changes that have taken place throughout the world, the 2007 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia includes thousands of new and revised articles across all disciplines, from science and technology and politics and religion, to society, the arts, and recreation. 

Noted as “a first choice for libraries, schools and homes” by Booklist, among the new topics covered in the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia are up-to-date coverage of the 2006 World Series and U.S. mid-term elections, a closer look at New Orleans and its progress in rebuilding, as well as Pluto’s new status as a dwarf planet.  From Intelligent Design to Genocide, World Book also covers more sensitive topics with an unbiased, informative approach.

Hundreds of new biographies also are featured, including world leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first elected president of an African country, and computer pioneers Michael Dell and Steve Jobs.  Tennis great Roger Federer and basketball’s LeBron James as well as celebrities George Clooney and Johnny Depp also are among those joining the ranks of World Book biographies as are filmmakers Ken Burns and Gordon Parks and rapper Sean Combs (a.k.a. Diddy).

On a more scholarly level, the biography of Jesus Christ has been thoroughly revised to introduce the latest understanding and now includes illustrations of a number of religious art masterpieces. 

The new edition also includes an expanded article on Time drawing on insights from physics and philosophy to help explain what we now know about one of the most enduring mysteries in human thought.  A new article on Extremophile examines microscopic creatures living in harsh environments that are helping in development of new drugs, and an article on Anxiety Disorders explores one of the most common mental health disorders.

“The 2007 edition continues to focus on the characteristics that have made The World Book Encyclopedia an essential learning tool for 90 years, namely, its accuracy, authority, balance and comprehensibility,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.  “Whether students are using our reference resources in print or online, they are assured the information is correct, developed by experts in the field with an unbiased approach, and written with the understanding of the student reader in mind.”

Ordering and Availability

The new 2007 World Book Encyclopedia is available now from the company’s online store (http://store.worldbook.com) and from World Book’s school and library sales force at 800-975-3250 (U.S.) or 800-837-5365 (Canada).

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading electronic products as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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With World Book Kids, children now have a safe, authoritative, and fun resource for searching online

New Home Edition Encourages Kids to Explore their World with Information Geared to Children’s Different Learning Styles

CHICAGO, ILL. – October 24, 2006 – World Book, Inc. today announced its introduction of World Book Kids to the consumer market.   World Book Kids is an online reference and activity center specifically developed for children ages five to 10, providing them with an age-appropriate, content-rich resource for looking up information and exploring the world around them.  World Book Kids is part of the World Book Online Reference Center for the home market (www.worldbook.com), which also includes reference resources for the entire family.

“Looking something up used to be synonymous with opening a volume of The World Book Encyclopedia and exploring a world of facts and ideas.  Today, when children ’look it up,’ they search the Internet often with disappointing outcomes: there are millions of irrelevant links and the sources they uncover are often inaccurate or simply inappropriate,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.  “World Book Kids provides a safe space online for children to explore their world.”

More than 60 percent of U.S. households have Internet access, and research shows mounting apprehension about what children may be seeing online.

“Parents are concerned about their children’s use of the Internet, but they also acknowledge that the Web is central to learning,” said Jesus Garcia, professor, social studies education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a member of the World Book Advisory Board.  “World Book is the number-one reference resource in schools and libraries.  It only makes sense that children have access to this same quality information at home, doing homework or simply finding out about things that interest them.” 

Delivering a Positive Internet Experience

World Book Kids focuses on ensuring a positive Internet experience for children.  This starts with an interface that uses descriptive graphics and pictures, audio, and simple words to help children easily navigate the site.

Children can look for information either by conducting a search or by browsing through a simple navigation with visual and audio clues, allowing even the youngest readers or special needs individuals to quickly zero in on the information they are interested in.  In addition to encyclopedia content written specifically for the young learner, the site also includes a dictionary as well as a maps database with hundreds of simplified images and a pictures database with thousands of editor-approved pictures, offering children a wealth of information at their fingertips.

Collaboration with Noted Child’s Author Helps Kids “Learn It!”

In addition to extensive input from children and educators, World Book Kids was created in conjunction with noted children’s author and educational television producer, Douglas Love. 

With the understanding that all children do not learn the same way, Love designed activities throughout World Book Kids to appeal to different learning styles:

• “Think It!” – for children that respond to facts, figures, and more traditional learning environments;
• “Make It!” – for children that learn new concepts by creating things and seeing how they work;
• “Be It!” – for children that learn from role-playing and physically connecting with a concept.

While World Book Kids is all online, many of the activities encourage a back-to-the-basics approach.

“Rather than sitting passively in front of the computer, children are encouraged to make things with their own hands or act out different scenarios.  So they may be going outside to make plaster casts of animal tracks in their back yard or learning how to make writing paper from recycled newspaper,” said Love, who has also created and produced the Emmy Award-nominated and Parents’ Choice Award-winning television series Out of the Box (Disney Channel).  “We know from studies that this type of interactivity improves retention levels because kids are actively involved in the learning process.”

Because World Book Kids also is used in schools and libraries, all the activities and content are tied to national curriculum standards, ensuring that, in addition to being fun, they meet the educational needs of children.

 “Play It!” Brings the Experience of Browsing to Online Encyclopedias

Rather than mind-numbing Internet games, ‘Play It’ is a vast quiz game that illustrates for children the interconnectedness of the world around them. World Book Kids’ articles include “Play It” questions that, when answered correctly, reward the player and bring him or her to a related topic.  Ultimately, “Play It!” circles children back to the original article, allowing them to explore a variety of content while seeing the relationships between different topics. 

Integrated with World Book Online Reference Center

In addition to World Book Kids, the World Book Online Reference Center includes

all the articles from the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia print set plus over 8,000 more; over 12,000 pictures and maps; more than 10,000 sounds, including pronunciations; more than 100 videos and animations; and more than 100 interactive panoramic views.  The site also includes a dictionary, atlas, hundreds of interactive activities, and 60,000 cross-reference links and more than 7,000 links to editor-approved Web sites.

The World Book Online Reference Center, including World Book Kids, has been adapted for maximum accessibility based on the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Special Subscription Offers for World Book Kids

World Book Kids is available as part of the home edition of the World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbook.com).  An annual online subscription to World Book Online Reference Center is $49.95. Families can also trial the World Book Online Reference for three days for just $3.95.

World Book also is offering World Book Kids as part of special Family Learning Systems, comprehensive digital and print packages to meet varied learning styles.  The Family Learning Systems include a one-year subscription to World Book Online Reference Center with World Book Kids, as well as the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Atlas or Dictionary, three Year Books detailing key news events, and three Science Years showcasing important findings in science and technology.

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading electronic products as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

EDITORS NOTE: Members of the media interested in accessing World Book Kids for review should contact Mary Jung at 773-429-0940, mtjung@msn.com.

 

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World Book Introduces All-New World Book Kids Online:

Redefines How Kids Learn from Reference Tools

New Approaches Combine to Help Students 'Learn It'!

CHICAGO, ILL. – September 6, 2006 – As students head back to the classroom this fall, World Book, Inc. is introducing World Book Kids (www.worldbookonline.com), an entirely new approach to online reference tools that reinforces children’s learning through hands-on activities and helps teachers in their efforts to successfully teach to national standards. 

Created in conjunction with noted children’s author and educational television producer, Douglas Love, the site starts with content from World Book’s award-winning Student Discovery Encyclopedia and adds activities that apply to the thousands of informative, easy-to-read and visually-appealing articles to provide students with the active learning environment they need to best absorb and retain information. 

“Historically, students have gone to an online encyclopedia to get information to put into a report, but World Book Kids changes that by offering an environment where they don’t just get information but can stick around to experience and probe ideas,” said Paul Gazzolo, World Book president.  “World Book Kids redefines what an online encyclopedia is by creating an all-new learning environment that supports students and teachers in entirely new and meaningful ways.”

New Approaches Combined to Helping Students “Learn It!”

World Book Kids was created for students in primary grades as well as special-needs learners, offering these students a learning environment that uses simple navigation, easy-to-read content, bright colors and highly graphical presentations, including thousands of colorful illustrations and diagrams supporting the articles.  Also, based on the understanding that all children do not learn the same way, activities throughout World Book Kids are presented in three categories:

• “Think It!” – for students that respond to facts, figures and more traditional learning environments;
• “Make It!” – for students that learn new concepts by creating things and seeing how they work;
• “Be It!” – for students that learn from role-playing and physically connecting with a concept.

While World Book Kids is all online, many of the activities encourage a back-to-the-basics approach.

“Rather than sitting passively in front of the computer, students are encouraged to make things with their own hands or act out different scenarios,“ said Love, who in addition to collaborating on World Book Kids is author of more than 25 creativity books for children, including Imagination Station, and has created and produced the Emmy Award nominated and Parents’ Choice Award winning television series Out of the Box (the Disney Channel) and Jammin’ Animals (HBO Family).  “We know from studies that this type of interactivity in curriculum has a very positive impact on test scores and retention levels.”

“Teach It!” Provides Educators with Tools to Teach to National Standards

Each World Book Kids activity also is formatted with a “Teach It!” hands-on lesson plan that incorporates a variety of core curriculum subjects and provides direct correlation to national standards.  It also offers a wealth of resources for educators, including printable activity worksheets for use in the classroom and at home.

“Educators increasingly need to teach to curriculum standards and, at the same time, are increasingly pressed to make instruction engaging,” said Gazzolo.  “World Book Kids offers them a ready and easy-to-use resource to help ensure that students are learning what they need to in order to succeed.”

“Play It!” Brings the Experience of Browsing to Online Encyclopedias

Many adults today that were in primary school well before computers remember vividly exploring the printed encyclopedia.  World Book Kids brings that experience to an entirely new generation by allowing students to “play the site.”  World Book Kids’ articles include questions that, when answered correctly, reward the student with a congratulatory animation and bring them to a related topic on the site.  Ultimately after exploring a few different topics, “Play It!” circles the student back to the original topic, allowing them to both explore a variety of content while seeing the relationship between different topics. 

Subscribing to World Book Kids

World Book Kids is available as an added component of the World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) available to schools and libraries throughout the U.S. and Canada. Institutions interested in subscribing should contact their World Book representative at 800-975-3250 (U.S.) or 800-837-5365 (Canada).

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading electronic products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

EDITORS NOTE: Members of the media interested in accessing World Book Kids for review should contact Mary Jung at 773-429-0940, mtjung@msn.com.

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World Book Congratulates Recipients of World Book-ALA Goal Grant Award

Grant to be used to study how to better serve library needs of linguistically challenged

NEW ORLEANS – June 27, 2006 – World Book, Inc. president Paul Gazzolo today applauded the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Research and Statistics for winning the 2006 World Book–ALA Goal Grant Award. The award includes a $10,000 grant by World Book and was presented today at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans to the award recipient for the proposal: "Public Library Service to the Nation's Linguistically Isolated: An Analysis Using the Public Library Geographic Database and U.S. Census Data 2000."

            “The ALA is at the forefront in recognizing the diversity of those who rely on or could more greatly benefit from library services as well as in advocating strong leadership within the profession,” said Gazzolo.  “The World Book-ALA Goal Grant Award helps foster the continued success of these important objectives.”

As recipient of the 2006 World Book-ALA Goal Award, the ALA Office for Research and Statistics will use the grant to research how the nation’s public, academic, and school libraries could better serve the more than 20 million people in the U.S. who either speak limited or no English. 

“The World Book-ALA Goal Grant Award is among the most generous award programs we have to recognize and help fund the improvement of public, academic, and school library services,” said ALA executive director Keith Michael Fiels.  “Each year the World Book-ALA Award helps advance a crucial program of benefit to libraries, librarians, and their patrons.”

The World Book-ALA Goal Grant Award, established in 1960, has supported more than 50 research projects that have successfully advanced library services over the years, including grants to support research for advancing rural, native, and tribal school and public libraries; young adult library services; library leadership and recruitment; and internet use in libraries.

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and such leading electronic products as theWorld Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

World Book introduces solar system & Space Exploration Library

CHICAGO – June 19, 2006 – Teachers and librarians eager to strengthen their classroom and library science reference collections will be drawn to World Book’s new Solar System & Space Exploration Library.  The 10-volume set offers an exciting and informative introduction to the solar system and space exploration. Designed to meet the needs of both visual and younger learners, from third through eighth grades, the set features large-type, easy-to-understand text, and hundreds of striking full-color photos, illustrations, diagrams, and charts.

“With the added emphasis on science as part of measuring students’ progress, World Book has placed a renewed emphasis on our already strong offerings in all areas of science,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.  “This new set provides a positive, content-rich introduction to space science using text and visuals designed to work together to help students understand the nature of the solar system and the history of space exploration.”

Each topic in the Solar System & Space Exploration Library is delivered in an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format.  The differences and similarities between Earth and other objects in space are highlighted.  This provides added context for students and further reinforces the information that is presented.  Treatments of individual planets include graphic planet locators to help students determine where a planet is in the solar system.  Equivalent data are provided for each planet to help with compare-and-contrast activities.  Key content words appear in boldface in the main text and are defined in the glossary contained in each volume.  Each volume also contains lists of additional print resources and Web sites, an index, and fun facts to encourage students to explore further. 

            Titles in the 10-volume set are:

• The Sun and Other Stars
• Mercury and Venus
• Earth and Earth’s Moon
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn and Uranus
• Neptune and Pluto
• Galaxies and the Universe
• Telescopes and Space Probes
• Human Space Exploration

Ordering Information

Schools and libraries in the United States and Canada can order the 10-volume, 640-page Solar System & Space Exploration Library (ISBN: 0-7166-9500-6) from their World Book sales representative or by calling 800-975-3250 (U.S) or 800-837-5365 (Canada). Consumers can purchase the books at the World Book Store (http://store.worldbook.com) or by calling 800-967-5325.

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center.  World Book is a part of the Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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World Book Feature on Hurricanes Offers Comprehensible Detail for Students as New Storm Season Begins 

CHICAGO – June _, 2006 – With hurricane season underway, World Book has introduced a new feature focused on helping students and their parents better understand these storms. The online feature, “Hurricanes!,” is available through the World Book Online Reference Center for schools and libraries (www.worldbookonline.com) and consumers (www.worldbook.com).

”Most of us still carry the images of last year’s tragic hurricane season. For children, even those who don’t live in hurricane areas, news about these storms can be overwhelming,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.  “Our hurricane feature is developed to help students better understand tropical storms, with the idea that by presenting information that is complete and comprehensible young people will be better prepared to understand news reports about the devastating impact of hurricanes and other powerful storms.”

From Tracking Tropical Storms to the Ecological Aftermath

The hurricane feature offers a comprehensive overview of hurricanes, including how they originate and travel as well as their impact on both the coastal and marine ecosystems.  The feature also explores 10 of the most significant hurricanes over the past 70 years, culminating with last year’s Hurricane Katrina.  Also covered is information on how the hurricane warning system operates, as well as detail on how to protect lives and property from hurricanes.  Each section is supported by charts, graphs, maps and other images that reinforce and add information to the topic. 

The hurricane feature also provides students with a variety of editor-reviewed links allowing them to explore further, including links to universities and government agencies.  Additionally, students can test their knowledge through an interactive quiz on hurricanes (available at http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Quiz?Hurricanes&sc=2).

About World Book Online

The World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) is the premier online general encyclopedia for students school and the library.  It includes more than 50,000 articles as well as more than 12,000 pictures and maps, and 7,000 links to editor-approved Web sites useful in helping the reader constructively explore topics further. The World Book Online Reference Center is continuously updated to incorporate new and important developments relevant to students and their families.  The World Book Concise Encyclopedia (www.worldbook.com) provides students and their families with ready reference from home.

The “Hurricanes!” feature is one of dozens World Book Content Spotlight features, available at no charge at www.worldbook.com or directly at http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/hurricanes. Content Spotlight features are designed to bring alive topics for students, prompting them to explore areas that they may not have known they had an interest in.  The information is presented in an age-appropriate, balanced format using text as well as graphics and pictures to heighten the experience. 

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms. 

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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World Book Takes Students Out of the World with Special Feature on Mars: Exploring the Red Planet

Feature Taps NASA, Leading Experts in Space Exploration

CHICAGO – May 8, 2006 – As students prepare to head out for summer vacation, World Book is inviting them to do a little space exploration with its newest special feature Mars: Exploring the Red Planet, available on the comprehensive World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) as well as on the World Book Concise Encyclopedia(www.worldbook.com). 

”Exploring Mars has been a priority for NASA and with so much new information coming from the rovers and probes, it makes Mars of even greater interest to our student readers,” said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book.  “Many students are excited by the advances in space exploration and they want to learn more.  We encourage this curiosity by putting the study of Mars in perspective, from the history of early exploration through plans for future voyages.  The material we present has been developed by experts in the field and is presented in a style that is clear and understandable to our readers.”

The special feature includes contributions by Steven W. Squyres, a professor of astronomy at Cornell University and principal investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission.  World Book, which is a NASA partner in helping educate the public about space exploration, also collaborated with the space agency to develop the feature segment on the proposed Aerial Regional-Scale Environmental Survey (ARES) Mars scout mission.

From Early Exploration to Manned Missions

The Mars feature provides students with a comprehensive overview of the red planet, from how it got its name to the description of such physical features as its surface and temperature, and details on the exploration of Mars from the first through the most recent endeavors, including Spirit and Opportunity. 

The feature also includes a discussion of NASA’s long-term Mars exploration program using “scout” missions to explore the planet, such as the proposed ARES mission, which will use a robotic, rocket-powered low-flying aircraft to provide the first direct measurements of the near-surface of the Martian atmosphere.  The aircraft will travel over hundreds of miles to collect information crucial to better understanding Mars and the potential for life on the planet.  An ultimate goal of Mars exploration is to send manned missions to Mars by the mid-to late 2000’s.

The Mars feature also provides students with a variety of editor-reviewed links allowing them to explore further, including links to universities, government agencies, NASA and space societies.

About the World Book Online Reference Center

The World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) is the premier online general encyclopedia for students at school and at home.  It includes more than 26,000 articles as well as more than 12,000 pictures and maps, and 7,000 links to editor-approved Web sites useful in helping the reader constructively explore topics further. The World Book Online Reference Center is continuously updated to incorporate new and important developments relevant to students and their families. 

The World Book Online Reference Center features are designed to bring alive topics for students, prompting them to explore areas that they may not have known they had an interest in.  The information is presented in an age-appropriate, balanced format using text as well as graphics and pictures to heighten the experience. 

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults.  Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms.  This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center. World Book is a part of Scott Fetzer, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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Kidman, Suzuki, Obama among new biographies in World Book

Chicago, IL—Jan. 24, 2006—What do Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman, U.S. Senator Barack Obama, and Japanese baseball player Ichiro Suzuki have in common?

a. Each of them has climbed to the top of Mount Everest.

b. They all look great in an evening dress.

c. Their biographies are among the hundreds of new and extensively revised articles in the 2006 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia.

If you guessed “c,” you are correct.

The 22-volume print version of the 2006 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, now on sale at the World Book Store (http://store.worldbook.com), includes more than 2,030 new or revised articles. World Book’s revision rate of 34 percent, which equates to more than 4,800 revised pages, makes The World Book Encyclopedia one of the most up-to-date general reference print encyclopedias in the world.

New biographies in the 2006 edition include such contemporary figures as opera singer Renee Fleming and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. Other biographies cover individuals whose contributions have endured, such as Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren and English photographic pioneer Eadweard Muybridge.

“As an essential learning tool, World Book helps students and their families understand the people who shape our world,” says World Book President Paul Gazzolo. “When adding biographies of individuals to World Book, our editors assess an individual's 'staying power' and relevance to an understanding of the world as well as his or her accomplishments.”

In 2005, editors also added hundreds of new and extensively revised articles to the World Book Online Reference Center, World Book's online encyclopedia (http://www.worldbookonline.com), including biographies of American golfer Byron Nelson; jazz musician Artie Shaw; comedian Richard Pryor; Ukrainian President Viktor Andriyovich Yushchenko; children’s author Linda Sue Park; American jurist Samuel Alito; and Camilla Parker Bowles, wife of Britain’s Prince Charles.

Since 1917, World Book, Inc., has set the standard in publishing for providing accurate, current, and reliable research materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Illinois, World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while keeping pace with the technological developments that define the computer age. This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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World Book brings NASA’s Stardust mission into the classroom

Chicago, IL—Jan. 15, 2006—World Book, Inc., is partnering with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to explain the origin of the solar system by educating students around the world about NASA’s Stardust mission. “NASA’s Stardust Returns to Earth,” a special feature on World Book’s Web sites, helps students and families learn more about the Stardust mission, the history of space exploration, and the elusive origins of the universe.

NASA scientists are searching for the origins of the solar system in a thimbleful of dust. Not just any dust, but the one milligram of interstellar and cometary dust collected by the Stardust spacecraft, which returned its samples to Earth on Jan. 15, 2006. It is the first space mission dedicated to collecting comet samples.

“NASA’s Stardust Returns to Earth” on the World Book Online Reference Center (http://www.worldbookonline.com) and the World Book Concise Encyclopedia (http://www.worldbook.com) explains the history of the mission—from Stardust’s pursuit of Comet Wild 2 and its capture of dust near the heart of the comet to the spacecraft’s dramatic return to Earth—in easy-to-read language that will transport students out of the classroom and into the Milky Way. “NASA’s Stardust Returns to Earth” features links to World Book articles, as well as photos, videos, and other media supplied by NASA.

In 2004, NASA selected World Book as a partner to help educate the public about space exploration. As a major provider of educational articles for NASA’s Web site, World Book was part of NASA's special coverage in 2005 of the historic exploration of Saturn and Titan, Saturn's largest moon, by the Cassini and Huygens probes. World Book's comet article was showcased on the NASA site in July 2005 when NASA performed its Deep Impact mission, which flew a probe into a comet. NASA also featured World Book's International Space Station article to accompany Web coverage of the Space Shuttle's return to flight in 2005.

“Just as NASA explores, discovers, and seeks understanding, World Book brings a universe of knowledge home to students and families,” says Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book, Inc. “We welcome the opportunity to support NASA’s missions by offering material to inform and excite children and their parents about the Stardust mission.”

Since 1917, World Book, Inc., has set the standard in publishing for providing accurate, current, and reliable research materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Illinois, World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while keeping pace with the technological developments that define the computer age. This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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After years of rejection, Trump finally makes it into World Book

Chicago, IL--Jan. 14, 2005--Donald Trump is rarely kept waiting. And he is almost never told no. However, editors of The World Book Encyclopedia have done just that for the past 13 years as they debated whether Trump's biography belonged in the encyclopedia. Up until now, the answer has been "no."

But Trump's long wait is over. In December 2004, Trump's biography was added to The World Book Online Reference Center, World Book's online encyclopedia (http://www.worldbookonline.com). Since Trump was first rejected by World Book in 1991, he has reinvented himself several times, most recently as the star of the hit TV show "The Apprentice." In the judgment of World Book editors, Trump finally has earned a piece of valuable real estate in World Book.

"Fortunately for Mr. Trump, there is more available real estate in World Book's online version today than there was in the print version in 1991," commented assistant editor in chief, Paul Kobasa. "However, he still had to meet stringent criteria to be accorded space even online. When adding biographies of individuals to World Book, our editors assess an individual's 'staying power' and relevance to an understanding of the world as well as his or her accomplishments. We would like to think that the goal of someday appearing in World Book spurred Mr. Trump to work harder and achieve more."

In 2004, dozens of biographies of important people were added to The World Book Online Reference Center, including those of swimmer Michael Phelps, author Don DeLillo, baseball player Jim Palmer, singer and composer Carole King, and Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson. Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, and James Bond earned a spot in World Book for the first time, as well.

The 22-volume print version of the 2005 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, which was published in December, includes biographies of actors Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, singer Wayne Newton, Secretary of State designate Condoleezza Rice, tennis star Andy Roddick, baseball star Alex Rodriguez, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and author Lemony Snicket, among many others.

Since 1917, World Book, Inc., has set the standard for providing accuracy, currency, and reliability in research materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Illinois, World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while keeping pace with the technological developments that define the computer age. This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558

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NASA selects World Book as partner

Chicago, IL--Feb. 10, 2005--The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected World Book as the provider of encyclopedic content to its Web site. The agreement allows NASA to feature World Book articles related to astronomy and space exploration on its Web site (http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html). NASA also will provide World Book with photos and videos from its media library for use on the World Book Online Reference Center (http://www.worldbook.com), World Book's subscription site.

NASA selected World Book as a partner to help educate the public about space exploration. In January 2005, World Book articles were part of NASA's special coverage of the historic exploration of Saturn and Titan, Saturn's largest moon, by the Cassini and Huygens probes.

"Looking in an encyclopedia can be a bit like exploring space," says Paul Kobasa, World Book Editor in Chief. "You may have a goal, but you never know what you may discover on your way there! World Book welcomes the opportunity to join NASA in offering material to inform and excite the public about space and NASA's work."

Since 1917, World Book, Inc., has set the standard in publishing for providing accurate, current, and reliable research materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Illinois, World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while keeping pace with the technological developments that define the computer age. This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center.

For more information, please visit www.worldbookonline.com, www.worldbook.com, or store.worldbook.com.

Contact: jennifer.parello@worldbook.com
Phone: 312-819-6558