Metals

Children's Literature

The gold, silver and bronze medals of the Olympics are all made of metal as was the burning torch that traveled underwater in the 2000 games "thanks to the metal magnesium." "Glass is given different colors by adding metal." Factoids like these make the reader want to discover more. The young chemist will delight in the simple descriptions and numerous photographs about alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and transition metals. Most metals are found in ores. The mining of ores of gold, copper, iron, lead, mercury and zinc is discussed as well as the process of removing metals from their ores by smelting, roasting or electrolysis. A spread about alloys tells the reader what elements best combine with metals to make their properties stronger or more valuable. Even the latest discovery is mentioned, the shape memory alloy. In the conclusion the author highlights recycling. The photographic presentation adds value and space to each page, making the amount of information presented in the text very manageable. Annotated websites and search strategies are included. It is helpful that new chemical vocabulary is in a bold font in the text and defined at the bottom of each page, as well as in the glossary at the end of the book. Part of the "Material Matters" series. 2004, Raintree, Ages 10 up.
—Sue Stefurak