Little Monsters: The Creatures that Live on Us and in Us
The Creatures that Live on Us and in Us
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Award winner Albert Marrin answers the question: "What's eating you?" - literally
From nonfiction master Albert Marrin, here is the shocking story of the longest running war of all time: man versus parasite. From fleas, ticks, lice, and bedbugs to worms, mites, leeches, and maggots, Marrin explains what parasites are, how they invade our bodies, and their effects for good or ill. At their best, parasites have saved limbs and lives; at their worst, they've been responsible for the deaths of billions of people and altered the course of human history. With photographs and illustrations throughout, this exploration of the hidden world exposes the creatures responsible for making our skin crawl - since the beginning of time.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With humor, eloquence, and smart analysis, Marrin (Years of Dust) looks into the surprisingly complex relationship between humans and parasites. While discussing the pests responsible for spreading plague, malaria, and typhus (and human efforts to combat them), he also points out the benefits provided by certain parasites. There's a definite ick factor at work (one of many b&w photographs gives a closeup view of a leech on a man's fingertip; another image depicts a Guinea worm emerging from a blister in its host's foot), but even squeamish readers should appreciate the clear, balanced approach to exploring some of our more unpleasant cohabiters. Ages 9 12.
