Tiny Creatures
The World of Microbes
-
- $7.99
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
“Sutton’s large-scale illustrations help children to visualize microorganisms and processes that are too small to see. . . . A handsome and rewarding picture book.” — Booklist (starred review) All around the world—in the sea, in the soil, in the air, and in your body—there are living things so tiny that millions could fit on an ant’s antenna. They’re busy doing all sorts of things, from giving you a cold and making yogurt to eroding mountains and helping to make the air we breathe.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Zoologist and children's author Davies (Outside Your Window) adds another book about the natural world to her extensive repertoire as she introduces microbes to readers. A straightforward narrative packed with comparisons sheds light on "the invisible transformers of our world," while clever, inviting watercolors help put those comparisons into context. Sutton's paintings, reminiscent of mid 20th-century children's book art with their subtle hues and na ve styling, lend a nostalgic, almost cozy feel to the pages. In one spread, smiling, waving people in a skyline full of towering buildings illustrate the idea that "A single drop of seawater can hold twenty million microbes. That's about the same as the number of people in New York State." Another spread contains circular vignettes like petri dishes under a microscope, each with a different microbe: "Some are skinny. Some have wiggling tails. Some look like daisies." An apparent brother-sister duo appear throughout getting stomachaches, gardening to demonstrate the connection between these ubiquitous microbes and human life. Davies and Sutton illuminate the world of germs, fermenters, and composters in a charming, succinct package. Ages 5 8.
