Recently we looked at the revamped version of Dorling Kindersley's Encyclopedia of Science, and here's another one that Avanquest has polished up and re-released for the education of the masses. As you would expect, it deals with the world of nature, covering Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 (an effective age range of 7 to 16) of the science syllabus.

As with the other DK title, the main menu has a wealth of icons to click on, all leading off to explore different areas of natural science, or side dishes such as a selection of quizzes. There's also an A-Z index that lists every topic in the program, complete with filters so you can sift through all the images, video content or animations.

Broadly speaking, the Encyclopedia of Nature covers the living world and its five kingdoms; animals, plants, fungi, monerans (bacteria) and protists (single celled organisms like algae). Every element of the natural world, from rocks and minerals to fish and insects, is given what's best described as a thorough overview, with some excellent quality images and helpful animations provided to illustrate various points.

Plenty of interesting facts are imparted along the way. Did you know that the cockchafer beetle can fly? (Fortunately, the issue of how it got its name is glossed over). Or that you excrete a trillion bacteria per day? That's something to think about the next time you're sat on the toilet; you're flushing away an entire micro-civilisation.

The links are plentiful, too, with many cross-references to other articles and pop-up definitions of various scientific terms. As with the Encyclopedia of Science, this leads to a relaxed browsing style of navigation which is conducive to spending time with the program and learning.

Sections on ecology and the biosphere feature prominently, along with material on endangered animals, as you would expect given the growing concern in these areas. There's also a one- or two-player quiz, with a fair sized database of multiple choice questions, and three interactive activities.

The first of these is a bank of various bird calls you can click on and listen to, with a quiz bolted on. It's a fairly short-lived experience, as is the close-ups quiz, which displays zoomed-in pictures of various animals, insects or objects and challenges the user to identify them.

The final interactive section is animal visions, a peek at the world through the eyes of various creatures (although there are only a few glimpses on offer). These extra activities are a little disappointing, but this doesn't pull down the overall high standard of the encylopedia too much. At this budget price, it's certainly a worthwhile purchase.

Another informative DK encyclopedia brought up to date by Avanquest, and well worth the budget price tag.