Published by MIT Kids Press
Summary: After an introduction to different types of microbes, the author looks at different places where these tiny creatures live. There are four parts: house, yard, food, and you, with several section in each. Whether it’s your pet, your bed, or your own body, it’s pretty much impossible to escape the microbes that are everywhere. Fortunately, most are benign or even beneficial to humans, but the ones that take over various creatures, turning their hosts into zombies, are pretty horrifying. In between the descriptions are interviews with scientists whose passion is learning more about the tiny creatures all around us. Includes a few pages at the end with some additional information and resources, as well as directions on how to draw E. coli; also an extensive bibliography. 176 pages; grades 3-6.
Pros: The lighthearted tone and funny illustrations make this a pretty entertaining reading, and kids will no doubt enjoy grossing out their peers, parents, and teachers with the information they learn here. The scientist profiles are a nice addition.
Cons: I may be in the minority here, but I felt like the section on microbes that live on humans was a bit too short. I want to know what I’m up against.
Summary: After an introduction to different types of microbes, the author looks at different places where these tiny creatures live. There are four parts: house, yard, food, and you, with several section in each. Whether it’s your pet, your bed, or your own body, it’s pretty much impossible to escape the microbes that are everywhere. Fortunately, most are benign or even beneficial to humans, but the ones that take over various creatures, turning their hosts into zombies, are pretty horrifying. In between the descriptions are interviews with scientists whose passion is learning more about the tiny creatures all around us. Includes a few pages at the end with some additional information and resources, as well as directions on how to draw E. coli; also an extensive bibliography. 176 pages; grades 3-6.
Pros: The lighthearted tone and funny illustrations make this a pretty entertaining reading, and kids will no doubt enjoy grossing out their peers, parents, and teachers with the information they learn here. The scientist profiles are a nice addition.
Cons: I may be in the minority here, but I felt like the section on microbes that live on humans was a bit too short. I want to know what I’m up against.