Periodic Table: Elements with Style! Basher S

This very "personable" introduction to the elements presents each element as if it were a person, with character traits that correspond to its elemental attributes. After a brief introduction on the periodic table and its organization, we jump right into the chapters. Chapters cover the periodic table from left to right, and include hydrogen, the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition elements, boron elements, carbon elements, nitrogen elements, oxygen elements, noble gases, lanthanides and actinides, and the transactinides. Each chapter opens with a paragraph or two that addresses all elements in that group (or family), and discusses how they are alike. Following this, we look at a few of the elements in the family individually. Each individual profile provides a list of information including symbol, atomic number, color, standard state, classification, density, melting point, boiling point, and date of discovery. This is followed by a conversational paragraph that sounds as if it were written by the element itself! For example, Tin's information states "I am a wily old metal with a long and distinguished history. Starting way back in the Bronze Age, I have been the ultimate mixer for metals." The information shared here is simple enough for children to understand, and covers some of the interesting uses, past and present, for each element. A cute aspect of the book is the illustrations, which are bold, edgy graphics that depict each element as a human or animal-like form with features that correspond with their attributes. As an added bonus, an illustrated periodic table poster is included at the end of the book, each element portrayed with its character from the book. Entertaining, visually pleasing, and even funny, this is probably the most interesting introduction to the elements I've ever had the pleasure of reviewing! 128 pgs, pb. Jess