Many of the members of the WTM email loop on Onelist have recently purchased the World History Encyclopedia published by Dempsey Parr Children's Books for a grammar level history spine. The overall reaction to the book has been very positive, and I'd like to recommend it to anyone who is looking for an alternative to the Usborne Book of World History for a younger child. Usborne in the quality of its illustrations. The main text for each spread appears as a narrative block, which makes summarizing easier. The text is at a somewhat higher reading level than Usborne, but it is not as advanced as the Kingfisher book recommended for logic stage.
Maps appear throughout the book, and are colorful and clearly labeled.
It has less nudity depicted in the illustrations than Usborne's, however.