Thank you, Rasmus, for your nevertheless quite thorough assessment! I have since received my copy as well, but I can't judge on the accuracy. Thus, your review is most helpful in that respect as well.
Inevitably, this new series is being compared with the bird series (HBW). While the basic set-up is pretty much similar, there have been some changes in the appearance. On the positive side, each photo clearly states the scientific name now in bold face. On the negative side, these captions to the photos now come in a smaller font than in HBW. This makes for harder reading for all whose eyesight is no longer (or never has been) optimal.
On first sight, the outside cover of any book is its first "calling card", so to speak. Here, I think, the new series has not received what it deserves. HBW comes in a somewhat unconventional and bold design, clearly indicating its extraordinary status. HMW, however, comes across as "just another" encyclopedia. I have several large animal books that all have a basically black cover (or at least spine) with white lettering. Thus, the new series does not stand out optically at all. A minor thing, maybe, but it might also be interpreted as "not being that extraordinary". Certainly not what the series deserves.
Inevitably, this new series is being compared with the bird series (HBW). While the basic set-up is pretty much similar, there have been some changes in the appearance. On the positive side, each photo clearly states the scientific name now in bold face. On the negative side, these captions to the photos now come in a smaller font than in HBW. This makes for harder reading for all whose eyesight is no longer (or never has been) optimal.
On first sight, the outside cover of any book is its first "calling card", so to speak. Here, I think, the new series has not received what it deserves. HBW comes in a somewhat unconventional and bold design, clearly indicating its extraordinary status. HMW, however, comes across as "just another" encyclopedia. I have several large animal books that all have a basically black cover (or at least spine) with white lettering. Thus, the new series does not stand out optically at all. A minor thing, maybe, but it might also be interpreted as "not being that extraordinary". Certainly not what the series deserves.