Germs Up Close

February 15, 2021
Grades 2-4 Meet the strangers within us: the types of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses that sometimes cause illnesses, though other types are beneficial to people. After a paragraph introducing each category of germs, the presentation spotlights one after another with a pithy summary of its characteristics, as well as an illustration. Viruses are described as "just tiny bundles of instructions, called DNA or RNA, wrapped in a coat of protein." The adjacent, greatly enlarged image features the virus that causes rabies. Throughout the book, illustrations include a few photos of people, some labeled diagrams, and many highly magnified, surprisingly colorful images of germs, including COVID-19. The book's final section discusses the immune system, explains vaccines, and encourages preventive practices such as handwashing and coughing into elbows rather than hands. An unusual addition to the back matter is a list of 11 occupations involving germs, from epidemiologist to microbiologist to veterinarian. The latter is Levine's profession when she's not writing engaging children's science books, such as Tooth by Tooth (2016), Flower Talk (2019), and this timely volume.

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May 1, 2021

Gr 3-5-Upper elementary readers will be fascinated by the highly developed, brightly tinted micrographs and illustrations dominating Levine's informational book about germs and their effects on the human body. Perfect as a launch point resource to begin a science unit, Levine's succinct overview of germs provides basic particulars about bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses, with visually dynamic examples of each. Simple, unembellished explanations introduce the four types of germs, while featured examples include pronunciation guides, habitat details, and "more to know" facts about how they may affect the human body. Coordinating frames and background color palettes segment the topics and main text around the boldly colored close-up shots. While formatted with well-placed labels, some visuals are marked with scientific names that go unexplained in the text, leaving readers to look up the subjects from outside sources. Levine includes a glossary and a brief resources list as back matter. In the section centered on viruses, which includes COVID-19 as an example, the author references scientific innovations in treatments, such as vaccine development and basic hygiene practices. In this manner, Levine brings readers "face-to-face" with microscopic germs to learn how they share our world and how we protect ourselves from those that are harmful. VERDICT Full of close-up visuals, this informational picture book provides basic, introductory support for explorations in upper-elementary science units about germs, including the COVID-19 virus, and brightly promotes the necessary correlation between scientific knowledge and health safety.-Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ

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