Chemistry can sometimes be a bit dry. If you are looking to spark your own or your child’s interest in the elements, The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray is just the book to do it. They will still need to learn about atomic numbers and protons, neutrons, electrons and bonding, but this coffee-table book makes the elements come to life with large, attractive photos and interesting facts and uses for each element. Gray writes a highly informative text infused with a sense of humor. It’s a winning combination to help demonstrate the relevance of chemistry.