Microbes

Title: I’m Trying to Love Germs

Author: Bethany Barton

Illustrator: Bethany Barton

Publisher/Year: Viking Books for Young Readers/2023

Favorite Line from the Book: And sometimes just appreciating how different something is can make you love it!

Can germs be cute? They can if they was drawn by Bethany Barton, the author and illustrator of I’m Trying to Love Germs, an informational fiction picture book that earned a starred review from School Library Journal! This fun book is the latest in Bethany’s popular I’m Trying to Love series, which includes I’m Trying to Love Spiders, I’m Trying to Love Garbage, I’m Trying to Love Rocks, and more.

Before I sat down to read this book, I was a tiny bit skeptical that I would like it. After all, it’s about germs. But the cover is so engaging–as are the covers of all of Bethany Barton’s books–so I kept an open mind. With easy-to-understand language and lots of humor in both text and art, I learned a ton about germs (a.k.a. in the scientific community as microbes or pathogens) and kids will, too, because books like this make learning fun!

In the story, a talking germ helps an unseen narrator (and readers) understand more about microbes and pathogens and develop an appreciation for these microscopic organisms. I’m Trying to Love Germs is chock-full of interesting scientific facts, such as humans have billions of helpful microbes in their bodies, and the four most common types of pathogens are bacterium, virus, fungus, and protozoan. You’ll discover doctors and scientists who work with germs, which germs make you sick, and how to avoid getting sick or how to get better if you do. More complicated scientific terms and concepts are simplified on each page, with pronunciation assistance included. Bonus back matter speaks to the importance of washing your hands so that you don’t spread germs to others.

As a good first introduction, teachers and parents may find this book useful in explaining illness or even the pandemic to children. With loads of delightful illustrations (done in ink, watercolor, and Photoshop) and even a few interactive elements, I’m Trying to Love Germs brings a potentially heavy STEM concept to life in a simple and humorous way, so much so that kids may just find germs fascinating!

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Title: Microbes

Author/Illustrator: Amy Gallagher

Publisher/Year: ThunderStone Books/2017

Back Cover Blurb: Microbes are incredibly tiny organisms; they are so small that millions of them can fit on the head of a pin! These cells, though invisible to the naked eye, are vital to the human race and ecosystem.

Microbes is a nonfiction picture book that introduces kids to six types of microbes: bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, archaea, and protozoa. Each microbe is discussed in its own chapter. Information and facts are presented in a simple, straight-forward manner. Colorful microbial characters accompany the text and liven up the pages. A Terminology section in the back offers expanded definitions of scientific terms featured in the book.

Microbes is, effectively, a mini Microbiology lesson for older kids–ages 8-12–and even curious adults who’d like to learn more about the microscopic creatures that share our world. The book certainly takes a heavy subject and makes is accessible to kids and to those of us who may be completely clueless, like me.

Did you know that microbes exist everywhere, even in our own bodies?

Did you know that bacteria can survive in a variety of habitats, even the arctic?

Did you know that some algae can be found on the hair of sloths and polar bears?

Did you know that protozoa hunt and gather other microbes as food?

Those are just a few of the interesting facts I learned.

I have to admit, microbes are a fascinating topic. If you have a child at home who loves science, this book is for them. Or maybe this book is for you, if you want to find out why algae is green, why yeast makes dough rise, or why white blood cells are important. If none of that interests you, then pick the book up for the illustrations. Who knew microbes could look so cute?