Hooray for Helium!: Understanding the 2nd Most Common Element by Blake Washington- A Review

Hooray for Helium!: Understanding the 2nd Most Common Element (The Chem Kids)  

Author: Blake Washingon 

Illustrator: Mallette Pagano

Series: The Chem Kids 

Paperback: 32 pages 

Publisher: Ferne Press (May 30, 2014) 

Language: English 

ISBN-10: 1938326326 

ISBN-13: 978-1938326325

One book that we purchased at the Decatur Book Festival this year was Hooray for Helium!: Understanding the 2nd Most Common Element. I was instantly drawn to this booth since I am indeed a scientist by day. Meeting Blake was a thrill and my girls were smitten with her warm smile and inviting approach to teaching science concepts. She also is a scientist by day, being a chemical engineer locally here in Metro Atlanta. This book is absolutely fantastic and will be a great learning tool for my girls. 

About the Story: Preparing for his birthday party, Jay is frustrated that the balloons he blows up do not float. His sister, Kayla, comes to his aid and teaches him all about the amazing properties of helium, the second most common element. 
Our review: My oldest daughter is the perfect age for this book. We read it shortly after the Decatur Book Festival, and I was thrilled when my daughter made a connection to the book at the Tellus Science Museum the next day and we saw the periodic table of elements. The story includes playful rhythms that make it entertaining for kids. There are also "Check it Out" pages throughout the text that include supplemental information and suggested experiments that make learning the scientific concepts fun. What I love the most about this book is that it brings diversity to the children's book world; which is so needed. I hope there are more books like this in the works. This book would be perfect in any elementary science classroom, home school supplemental text, or home library. 

Go and check it out:

*I purchased this book at the Decatur Book Festival to add to our home library.

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