8 Awesome Chemistry Books For Kids (Chemspirational!)
Getting kids excited about science has never been easier. There are so many great resources out there, including books. We’ve got a great selection of books that offer you many different ways to enthuse your kids about chemistry. The top pick is Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids. This book encourages kids to try experiments for themselves and does a great job explaining exactly what’s going on behind the pretty reactions.
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- Chemistry Books For Kids
- Best Overall – Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids
- Best for High School Students – Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
- Budget Option – Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work
- Best for Pre-Schoolers – Little People Big Dreams – Marie Curie
- Best for Elementary School Kids – Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table
- Best for Kids Who Like To Ask Questions – Why Is Milk White?: & 200 Other Curious Chemistry Questions
- Best for Preteens –The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home
- Best for a Compelling Read – The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark
- What to Consider When Buying Chemistry Books For Kids
- Frequently Asked Questions
Chemistry Books For Kids
Best Overall – Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids
Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids is an excellent book for getting kids excited about chemistry. All of the experiments are easy to complete at home. There are no difficult to find items needed. Instead, think water, paper towel, and lollypop sticks.
While this book is filled with experiments to try, they don’t just stand-alone. Instead, this book offers great explanations of both the science behind the experiments and the scientific method. The aim is to help turn kids into natural scientists.
It’s a fun and easy to read book. The pictures and design make it really appealing to kids, and the experiments are well chosen. There is even a glossary and index so you can find just the right experiment to support what your kids are learning at school.
Best for High School Students – Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything is actually the second book in a series. All three of the books share the same gorgeous style of pictures. They are all a feast for the eyes.
If you are only looking to buy one book, I’d recommend this one, especially for high schoolers. The topic is well suited to what they’re studying at school, so they’ll get a lot out of it.
The book is really well written. It’s interesting, engaging, and educational. It goes into a good level of detail and uses pictures to really make learning fun and easy.
Budget Option – Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work
Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work is a great little book and offers amazing value for money. The over 100 experiments are well explained and can be performed with items found in most homes.
The pictures used in the book make everything clear and easy to understand. They are also used well to support the explanations of the science.
What makes this such a good book is that the concepts are explained clearly in simple language. With each experiment, there are also prompts to encourage you and your child to think more deeply about the science and apply what you’ve learned.
This book is an excellent choice for kids aged 5-10. It not only excites them about chemistry, but it also encourages them to be curious and ask questions.
Best for Pre-Schoolers – Little People Big Dreams – Marie Curie
Little People Big Dreams – Marie Curie is one of a series of books on famous scientists’ lives. This is a great one for getting girls, especially interested in learning about chemistry.
The book is beautifully illustrated and tells the story of the challenges that Marie Curie faced, and more importantly, how she overcame them. It’s an engaging and inspiring story for kids ages 3 – 7. You can even get a board book version if you want to share it with younger kids.
At the back of the story, there is a detailed and interesting timeline that details her life and work. It’s interesting enough that most parents will probably enjoy spending some time reading this part for themselves.
Best for Elementary School Kids – Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table
Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table is an excellent example of what you can make with simple and beautiful design. The book is filled with lovely illustrations of a dog on an adventure. The images are clear and not too busy, as can sometimes be the case.
For each element, there is a riddle. It’s a great way to get kids hooked on learning about the elements and really works as a way to help them learn some basic facts about each of the elements.
By only introducing the first ten elements, this book is a gentle introduction that does a good job of stirring curiosity rather than overwhelming. However, it must be noted that the details are on point. There aren’t many books for kids this age that can introduce the different number of electrons for each element in a clear yet understated way.
Best for Kids Who Like To Ask Questions – Why Is Milk White?: & 200 Other Curious Chemistry Questions
Why Is Milk White?: & 200 Other Curious Chemistry Questions is the perfect book for any child who likes the question ‘why.’ It’s filled with so many outstanding questions, and of course, their answers too.
There are so many questions that they are split down into topics. These include People and Animals, Plants, Household Chemistry, Health and Safety, Things That Catch Fire or go Bang, Chemistry in the World, Chemists, and Food. It’s an excellent read, and I’m sure even parents will learn a thing or two from this book.
What’s really great about this book is that it’s not just a series of answers. Sprinkles among the answers are suggested projects. There are ideas for how kids can find their own answers to some questions, which is a really great way to inspire kids to pursue a career in science.
Best for Preteens –The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home
The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home is a genuinely fascinating read. It gives readers the chance to learn about all the major elements of the periodic table.
The book is split into individual sections for each element, so it’s a great one for dipping in and out of.
The science is related clearly and engagingly. The authors have made great use of different techniques to keep kids engaged. You’ll find pictures, diagrams, and ‘Atomic Comics’ spread liberally throughout the book. It’s colorful, quirky, and engaging.
What I most love about the book is that it’s all framed as a detective story. This style lets children feel the excitement of discovery that early chemists felt when they found new elements. It’s also a style that does a great job of encouraging kids to be curious and ask questions.
Best for a Compelling Read – The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark
The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark is a book that mixes science and history with great storytelling. It covers the history of the discovery of radium and how the excitement over a glow in the dark material led to a lot of suffering.
This book addresses the harm done to the people involved, so you may want to choose this book with care if your child is quite sensitive. However, the authod does it and is uses it to teach an important lesson about the research that should be done on new discoveries.
What makes the story really come alive is the selection of photos from the time. It lets kids get a real glimpse into the otherwise mysterious world they’re reading about.
What to Consider When Buying Chemistry Books For Kids

Age Range
When you pick a book for a child, it’s essential to try and match the book to your child’s age and ability level. We’ve tried to give some guidance on this, but, ultimately you know your kid best, so trust your judgment. It’s a good idea to aim for something that offers a small amount of challenge. This means your child will learn something and is unlikely to get bored.
Illustrations
The illustrations in a science book can make a big difference. This is especially important in ones that are trying to give instruction either on scientific concepts or on how to perform experiments.
Type of Book
There are lots of ways to get kids excited about chemistry. Sometimes giving them a dry book of facts and information isn’t the way to go. On this list, you can find some books that use a more storytelling approach to reel kids in. There are books filled with experiments. Hands-on learners can get a lot out of these sort of books. Finally there are biography style books. These can be a wonderful way to inspire younger kids to consider chemistry as an option for their future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I encourage a girl’s interest in chemistry?
Chemistry is a great subject to study, and there are loads of ways to get girls excited about it. You can try the classic option of getting a chemistry set that is ideal for letting kids explore independently. Another option to consider is to find books about women’s role in the history of chemistry. Two influential scientists you might want to consider are Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin. Marie Curie is the only woman to have won two Nobel prizes, and Rosalind Franklin’s work allowed Watson and Crick to uncover the structure of DNA.
How do I teach my child chemistry?
If you want to help your kids do better in chemistry in school, then you might want to have a look at MEL subscription boxes. These are monthly chemistry kits that not only let your child try experiments but also helps them learn key chemistry ideas. There is good evidence that kids who engage with MEL boxes get better grades in school.
How old should kids be before you buy them a chemistry book?
It’s never too early to start introducing kids to chemistry and other sciences. The earlier you expose kids to scientific ideas and thinking, the better. You can even get baby board books so you can get some fun chemistry books for your child for the day they first come home.
Last update on 2021-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API