Book Review of Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table
The Children’s Book Review

Written by Isabel Thomas

Illustrated by Sara Gillingham

Ages 8-14 | 224 Pages

Publisher: Phaidon Press | ISBN-13: 978-1838662318

What to Expect: Science, Nature, Chemistry, Discovery

Every single thing on our planet is composed of just 92 basic elements, from gold watches to atom bombs, trees to sky-scrapers, bacteria to drinking glasses, and rocket fuel to human brains. Despite this simplicity, however, there is a lot to learn about these 92 building blocks. From the composition of elements from electrons, protons, and neutrons to the exciting forms and uses to which each element can be put, Exploring the Elements offers everything you could possibly want to know about the elements that make up our universe.

Exploring the Elements is colorful, comprehensive, and accessible, breaking complex chemical concepts down into simple ideas easy for young readers to grasp. Fascinating facts (not all neon lights contain neon!) bring abstract constructs to life, showing readers just how magical chemistry can be when it combines with human creativity and innovation. The blocky, primary-color illustrations serve not only to create an engaging and easy-to-read text but also help readers understand the groupings and categorizations so important to chemistry, with color-coded pages matching neatly to the pull-out periodic table printed on the inside of the dust jacket.

Perfect for school or for budding scientists at home, Exploring the Elements is a beautiful and useful book.

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About the Author

Isabel Thomas is an award-winning science writer and the author of more than 150 books about science and nature for young audiences. Her critically-acclaimed picture book Moth: An Evolution Story, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus, was awarded the 2020 AAAS Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books. Isabel also writes features for children’s science magazines The Week Junior Science+Nature and Whizz Pop Bang, and outreach projects.

Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table by David Slonim was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with science, nature, and chemistry.