CYBER space is full of wonderful websites that focus on providing kids with encyclopaedia of almost everything. All these sites have their distinct way of providing knowledge. One such website that we are to explore today is an illustrated encyclopaedia — the Q-files.

The content of Q-files is geared towards students from Grade Three to Grade Nine. The homepage is very attractive with thumbnails pictures from all sections and topics while the main menu is given at the top centre with sections such as ‘Prehistoric’, ‘History’, ‘Culture’, ‘Geography’, ‘Space’, ‘Technology’, ‘Science’, ‘Life’ and ‘Earth’ all having sub-categories in them.

When you click on any topic, it opens with images, links to other entries and a short description. So kids who don’t like to go into details will find this website wonderful as the description given here is short and to the point.

A ‘Q-news’ section includes entries about current events that link back to the encyclopaedia entries, and short ‘Q-facts’ boxes offer fun facts related to most entries. However, navigation can be tough. There’s a tonne of information here, and it’s tough to wade through it in an organised way.

But the best thing is the language which is kid-friendly, short, and crisp with related pictures and illustrations making the complex topics easy to understand. Even when there are references to war and fights in the history, kids won’t find any disturbing picture or details.

The website is the creation of Orpheus Books Limited, a publishing company based in Oxford, England, and claims to be the world’s first fully comprehensive, free-to-user, advert-free online encyclopaedia specially designed for children. All the pages in Q-files have been written by expert children’s writers, working alongside the experienced editorial team at Orpheus.

www.q-files.com