The New Oxford School Atlas

Atlases used to be given by honorary aunts to deserving, but often unappreciative, boys and girls. They vied with dictionaries as the least welcome Christmas presents. Nowadays an atlas is becoming an essential reference at all levels of education in response to the 'locational knowledge' aspect of what will become known as national curriculum geography. This vividly new Secondary atlas from Oxford University Press arrives absolutely on cue, not only for said aunts seeking refuge in safe gifts but for school librarians and teachers of geography. There is much to commend the publication. Its clear topographical maps, attractive and constantly varied lay-outs, ingenuity of titles in its thematic sections, and its highly contemporary concern for environmental issues, all set it apart as a volume that demands attention. Its pages are crammed with fascinating detail: the disputed boundaries between Pakistan and China, the arrangement of streets in Moscow, the intriguing cross-section through the Antarctic ice sheet, the location of Fiji in both Poly- and Melanesia. Of particular value to students of geography and not browsers through atlases, is the abundant economic, population and other statistical detail, particularly of the United Kingdom. Average house prices in 1985 have a hollow ring and the weather summary for 1988 will soon be dated, but these are niggles. This is a great atlas. Buy it.