Book Review
Theodore Gray and Nick Mann bring the elemental world to life through easy-to-understand language and awesome accompanying visuals for over 100 elements.
I myself find the book quite interesting, and believe it is great pictorial introduction to the world’s elements. That said, I am going to approach this review from the perspective of a parent and discuss how it is used by my (currently) six year old daughter, and how I could see it used by children of alternate ages.
We’ve had this book in daughter’s collection for around a couple years. As can be expected, it is not the kind of book that acquits itself for bedtime reading. Not to say it couldn’t be used, but we’ve found stories to be more enjoyable for all involved in our household. Or at least biographies written in a narrative form.
On the other hand, our experience with our daughter has been the book is great for random pulling off the shelf and looking through the images. This is usually followed by finding one either myself or my wife and asking:
- What is this?
- Is this dangerous?
- And our favorite, Can I eat this?
Book Images
Publisher Description
Based on seven years of research and photography by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann, The Elements presents the most complete and visually arresting representation available to the naked eye of every atom in the universe. Organized sequentially by atomic number, every element is represented by a big beautiful photograph that most closely represents it in its purest form. Several additional photographs show each element in slightly altered forms or as used in various practical ways. Also included are fascinating stories of the elements, as well as data on the properties of each, including atomic number, atomic symbol, atomic weight, density, atomic radius, as well as scales for electron filling order, state of matter, and an atomic emission spectrum.
Book Accessories
It’s not often I get to the use the phrase book accessories, but that’s just what we have here: a photographic card deck of all 118 elements.
Each card contains a full size image on the front, and information about the element on the back.
Other Books to Consider
Looking for another elements book to go with this one? Or perhaps you’re looking for something a bit different.
If so, check out any of these 5 other elements-related books. Just click on the title to check Amazon reviews.
The Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table
“Kids can go on a visual tour of the 118 chemical elements of the periodic table, from argon to zinc, in this one awesome volume packed with incredible images and fascinating facts.
Cataloged by type, each element’s properties and atomic structure is explained. More than 1,000 full-color photographs showcase the natural forms of each element, as well as a wide range of unexpected everyday objects in which it is found, to make them relevant to a child’s world. How does a motorcycle utilize nitrogen? Which element can absorb harmful chemicals in water? Which famous landmark is made of copper? From hydrogen to sodium to nickel, kids will learn fun facts and be amazed.
Supporting STEM education initiatives and designed in DK’s signature visual style, The Elements Book brings the periodic table to life.”
The Periodic Table: Elements with Style
“The Periodic Table introduces budding chemists to the world of the elements as it’s never been seen before. Designed to resemble popular networking Web sites, the pages of this book feature “homepages” for each of the chemical elements — complete with witty and informative profiles written by the elements themselves, plus a personally chosen picture.”
The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home
“Did you know that without the “lead” in your pencil, there would be no life on Earth? Just about everything in the universe is made from only 92 elements – and from aluminum to zinc, many of them are hiding in your very own home!
This funny and fascinating guide is bursting with brilliant facts about the atomic ingredients that make up everything around us. Join scientific sleuth Sherlock Ohms as he investigates the elements, and help his enquiries with explosive experiments.”
Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table
“The best picture book to introduce science to children of all ages who love puppies. With rhyming riddles and artful illustrations, it inspires little tykes through teenagers to learn about the elements and the world of atoms. Even parents enjoy learning something new.”
Theodore Gray’s My First Elements (Baby Elements)
“This board book for babies, ages 6 months to 3 years, features big, bold, and bright photography from Theodore Gray’s bestselling adult book The Elements, paired with delightful, baby-friendly text. My First Elements includes 10 elements, one per spread. Each spread features a big photograph of the element on one page, such as an iron horseshoe or nugget of gold. The opposite page shows photographs of the places in baby’s world where the element is found from balloons for helium to a swimming pool for chlorine to seaweed for iodine.”