The Elements Book

July 1, 2017

The elements are the building blocks of our world, but many people are unaware of their history, their physical beauty, and how they impact our daily lives. The entries in this volume are categorized by their location in the periodic table, emphasizing commonalities among groups. The Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with Jackson (Mathematics) and DK, has created an eye-popping book with stunning images from hundreds of photographers, with a page or two devoted to each element. Call-out boxes reference key scientists, and occasional spreads showcase elements in action, such as sculpted into a golden Buddha or crafted into the aluminum blades of a jet turbine. Scientific tidbits both common ("Plants release oxygen in sunlight") and obscure ("Pure chlorine is heavier than air") are also featured. VERDICT Perfect for browsing, this gorgeous volume deserves a place in every school and public library.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017

Gr 5-7-An array of glittering crystals, lambent chunks of ore, and artistically posed lab samples that were all definitely ready for their close-ups are paired with equally vivid photos of manufactured products, scientific instruments, works of art, prominent scientists, and large-scale natural features to give this tour of the periodic table a strongly visual character. Arranged not by atomic number but (more logically) in groups, the 118 entries each contain examples of an element's various forms and common uses, diagrams of atomic structures, and, occasionally, a side profile of the element's discoverer or namesake. The narrative text is often rather squeezed into a ribbon along the lower margins, offering pithy explanatory comments on the pictures, which are accompanied by clearly visible labels and captions. Jackson occasionally makes simplistic claims, such as assertions that there are only three states of matter (more than a dozen have been demonstrated or theorized) and that Robert Boyle was the first to conduct chemistry experiments. Still, his information is precise, concise, and current enough to include the recently assigned permanent names for elements 113, 115, 117, and 118. VERDICT Not an essential replacement for older surveys such as Dan Green's The Elements or Albert Stwertka's Guide to the Elements, but for upper elementary and middle school students, this is a dazzling and up-to-date alternative.-John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.