Editorial Reviews Gr 3 6 These slim books provide cursory introductions to the elements, chemical reactions, and mixtures and compounds, with some crossover of subject areas within the three titles. The audience for them is unclear. The open layout, with colorful photos and illustrations on each spread, would appeal to younger readers. However, the text is dense and difficult to read and the content is more appropriate for older readers. At times, the books are inaccurate or contradict each other. For example, in Mixtures and Compounds , the text states that atoms combine to create everything, including the "lead in our pencils." Actually, pencils now are created with graphite, not lead. In addition, Elements states that "nonmetal carbon is found in pencil lead." Chicken soup is offered as an example of a heterogeneous mixture, which is highly oversimplified. Children looking for a simple introduction to chemistry would be better served by Anita Brandolini's Fizz, Bubble & Flash! (Williamson, 2003). Students needing information for reports would likely require more comprehensive resources.