Chemistry Books You Absolutely Need
We are a book family so you know I had to include a list of great chemistry books that you should probably own.
Or at least have on hand for an excellent homeschool chemistry unit study.
I wouldn’t necessarily buy all of these books – that would depend on how much your child is interested.
If I had a child not at all interested in chemistry, I’d probably start with some hands-on activities, like the ones in the chemistry experiment books below.
If your child already loves chemistry or the idea of chemistry, just look for something that you think will excite them!
I’ve listed non-fiction books, experiment books, and fiction books.
These books are for kids all ages so peruse them all!
Non-Fiction Books
Basher Science: Chemistry
Basher Science books are always great for introducing new concepts, learning the vocabulary, and generally enjoying a new topic. They’re light-hearted but packed full of information.
Organic Chemistry for Babies by Chris Ferrie
I know this says it’s for babies – and it could serve perfectly fine as a baby’s board book – but the knowledge is this book is great for any kid. It’s a really cute book and the information is spot on.
Chemistry: The Atom and Elements by April Chloe Terrazas
I love how this book breaks down some big concepts for young kids in a colorful and interesting manner. I think I learned quite a bit, too.
Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History by Penny Le Couteur
I feel like this book is best for people who are already interested in chemistry. It’s where history meets chemistry but still includes a lot of information on certain elements.
The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry by Larry Gonick
This book may be all cartoons but it is not lacking in information. It starts with a history of chemistry but goes into explaining some pretty complicated chemistry concepts.
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Jeanne Bendick
Great book for kids who might not already be interested in the periodic table. It’s engaging and interesting.
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements by Sam Kean
This is the kids (or younger) version of the “adult” version of this book. I think either option would be great depending on your child’s interest level.
Why is Milk White? & 200 Other Curious Chemistry Questions by Alexa Coelho
Chemistry Experiment Books
There aren’t a lot of great chemistry experiment books for kids…mostly because there are only so many safe chemistry experiments for kids.
These ones were my favorites (also approved by Baloo, who is my chemistry consult at all times)
Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking by Simon Quellen Field
We’ve done so many of the typical chemistry experiments and we were starting to get a bit bored. This book is allowing us to approach chemistry in a different way.
The Book of Ingeniously Daring Chemistry: 24 Experiments for Young Scientists by Sean Connolly
This is really more than just a book of experiments. It goes into a bit of history and information about each element and also includes chemistry experiments specifically for kids.
Fiction Chemistry Books
I always love fiction books over non-fiction because good fiction books just pull you in. There’s nothing quite like losing yourself in a book.
And when that book includes useful facts – even betters.
So I always try to find fiction books for whatever subject we are learning about.
The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake by Joanna Cole
I love Magic School Bus. I think the chemistry is a bit light in this one but it really is perfect for the age group intended (younger kids).
Curious McCarthy’s Family Chemistry by tory Christie
Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter by Simon Mayo
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley
