Element In The Room (HB)

Did you know there would be no life on Earth without the "lead" in your pencil? This brilliantly quirky hardback takes the periodic table (yes, that one) and hides it in plain sight around your home, with Lauren Humphrey's gorgeous illustrations and science writer Mike Barfield's warm, funny storytelling guiding young readers through 92 elements alongside detective Sherlock Ohms. It's the kind of book that makes a child look at a aluminium foil and think wait, actually... and honestly, you'll learn something too.

We love it because:

• It makes the periodic table genuinely exciting, approachable and relevant to everyday life
• Sherlock Ohms gives the whole thing a brilliant narrative hook that keeps young readers turning pages
• Lauren Humphrey's illustrations are quirky and full of personality, nothing like a school textbook
• It sparks the kind of questions that turn into proper kitchen table conversations
• A great first step into science for children who think they're "not science people"

What's in the box:

• One hardback book, 64 pages, colour illustrations throughout

Great for:

• Ages 7 and up
• Curious children who ask a lot of questions (you know the ones)
• Birthdays, Christmas, or a gift for a child who's just started secondary school
• Families who like learning to feel like discovering, not studying

Important to know:

• Hardback, 64 pages
• Dimensions: 19 x 12.5 x 1.4 cm
• Published by Laurence King Publishing, September 2018
• Suitable from age 7+