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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2010
The reviews are spot on about the engaging characters and novel presentation of the Periodic Table. The series (we own several titles) has opened my children's eyes to science topics other than the ones they already liked. And because they read them over and over again, the books have deepened their knowledge and understanding of each topic. I think the method of this book is the game changer- it is FUN!
However, I disagree with the assertion (by a teacher and the editor- Ha Ha!- I am a chem engineer and homeschooling parent) that this book is for fourth graders and older. No, no, no. Let your interested 5 year olds page through the book and read every page they ask you to. Early exposure to science gives children confidence that they can study and understand these so-called difficult things. Let your child discover that she/he can do it!!! Learning about hydrogen today, oxygen tomorrow, and gold and neon next week is success. Encourage them. If you are unsure of the topic, learn with your child; discover the topic together; learn that you can do it. After you have read to them, tell them that they are learning the same information that is taught in first year college chemistry. That will be a wide-eyed, wow moment- enjoy it.
This book, and the series as a whole, has made my science reluctant 6 yr. old interested in technical topics. She realizes that science is fun, interesting, something she can do, and as fun as girly things like princesses- a big step at our house. She started with Basher's Biology because that was about cute things like animals and has since had the interest to read Physics, Astronomy, and the Periodic Table. My son read Physics and the Periodic Table first, because "those are serious topics," and has since discovered that Biology is also serious and, dare I say, interesting and not gross. I am ordering three more titles today.
However, I disagree with the assertion (by a teacher and the editor- Ha Ha!- I am a chem engineer and homeschooling parent) that this book is for fourth graders and older. No, no, no. Let your interested 5 year olds page through the book and read every page they ask you to. Early exposure to science gives children confidence that they can study and understand these so-called difficult things. Let your child discover that she/he can do it!!! Learning about hydrogen today, oxygen tomorrow, and gold and neon next week is success. Encourage them. If you are unsure of the topic, learn with your child; discover the topic together; learn that you can do it. After you have read to them, tell them that they are learning the same information that is taught in first year college chemistry. That will be a wide-eyed, wow moment- enjoy it.
This book, and the series as a whole, has made my science reluctant 6 yr. old interested in technical topics. She realizes that science is fun, interesting, something she can do, and as fun as girly things like princesses- a big step at our house. She started with Basher's Biology because that was about cute things like animals and has since had the interest to read Physics, Astronomy, and the Periodic Table. My son read Physics and the Periodic Table first, because "those are serious topics," and has since discovered that Biology is also serious and, dare I say, interesting and not gross. I am ordering three more titles today.
