Top Ten Texts 1 and 2

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe

Gray, T. (2009). The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.

The first 100 of the elements are each profiled on a two-page spread. The left-hand side of the spread features a large color image of the element in its true form, when possible. The right-hand side includes various images of ways the element appears in the world and explanations of some of the compounds in which it can be found. For example, the Selenium entry includes images of selenium sulfide medicated shampoo, Brazil nuts (which are high in selenium), and a red vase that gets its color from a selenium glaze. Most of the images are items from the author’s personal collection. A column running down the right-hand page offers information on the element’s location in the periodic table and its atomic weight, density, atomic radius, and crystal structure in addition to charts portraying its electron order filling, atomic emission spectrum, and states of matter at various temperatures. Because of their instability and short half-life, or because they have not yet been discovered, elements 101 through 118 are presented in two groups of nine. The volume concludes with a brief bibliography and an index in addition to a foldout poster of the periodic table. This book would be a great tool to use when teaching the periodic table of elements. This book could always be referenced too when assigning projects based on the elements.

Hurricanes

Simon, S. (2007). Hurricanes. New York: Collins

Hurricanes is 32 page book that presents a definitions, etymologies, and descriptions of tropical storms, disasters and hurricanes. Simon explains what hurricanes are and imparts a vivid sense of their destructive potential. After introducing hurricanes (and their lesser cousins, tropical storms and tropical depressions), he describes how the storms develop and are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale and supplies recent examples before closing with advice for readers who might find themselves in a hurricane's path. This lower level book is a great tool to use with my LEP students and my struggling readers.