Beyond the Textbook
Most kids encounter the periodic table as a grid to be memorized for a test. The Disappearing Spoon does the opposite: it treats the table as a map of human behavior. Whether it's the story of how a little lithium helped treat a poet's mania or how gallium became the go-to element for laboratory pranksters (hence the title), Kean makes the science feel personal.
In the context of Screenwise's belief in the Reading Rope, this book is a heavy-hitter for the language comprehension strand. By providing rich background knowledge, it gives kids the mental 'hooks' they need to hang more complex scientific concepts on later in life. If your kid is a struggling decoder but has a high level of curiosity, the audiobook version is a fantastic way to keep their literacy growth on track without the friction of the printed page.
Why it holds up
Even though it was published in 2010, the science is foundational and the history is timeless. In an era of short-form 'fun facts' on TikTok, Kean provides the deep dive that actually builds understanding. It's the kind of book that turns a kid into the person who says 'Actually, did you know...' at the dinner table—and for once, the fact is actually interesting.
The teen-sized edition: The Disappearing Spoon (Young Readers Edition) is the official young readers adaptation of this book (ages 10–99) — same core ideas, shorter and gentler in the telling. The right handoff for a curious kid who isn't ready for the original.
