Vulgar Viruses

November 1, 2020

Gr 2-4-Illustrated characters, who are drawn with light and dark skin tones, discuss the bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses covered in this series. Their commentary provides a bit of silliness to the text. Each spread features large images of the offending organism or its effects. Text appears in a white box to make it stand out. Vocabulary terms are underlined and defined in the glossary. Students who revel in the weird and unsavory will be captivated by descriptions of zombie snails, athlete's foot, and tapeworms. A discussion of ways to fight back with antibiotics, vaccines, and hygiene ends each title on a positive note. VERDICT Sure to be popular with kids who aren't afraid of the strange and gross. Pesky Parasites would be an excellent resource when studying adaptations.

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