Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes

British author/illustrator team Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton explore the fascinating world of microbes in this informative, beautifully-produced picture-book. Using simple, clear language and artwork which perfectly depicts the subject under discussion, they describe how these microscopic but prolific creatures reproduce, the diverse tasks they accomplish, and their great importance to humanity and to the larger world. Tiny they may be, but they are mighty as well...

I initially sought out Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes because I was looking for more of Sutton's work, after enjoying her illustrations in such titles as Delia Huddy's The Christmas Eve Tree and Katherine Rundell's One Christmas Wish, but I ended up enjoying it as much for Davies' deceptively simple text as for the beautiful artwork. This wasn't much of a surprise, as I have also enjoyed many of the author's other books, both fiction and non-fiction. This one does an excellent job of explaining a complicated subject, dealing with everything from the incredibly small size of microbes to their outsized role in shaping the planet in a way that will be readily understandable for younger children. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for excellent science titles for children ages four through seven. For my own part, I intend to seek out other books from this pair! ( )

simplistic and easy to understand information about microbes for young people. ( )

This book tells readers a lot about microbes: what they are, how they reproduce, which ones can make you sick, and all the things they do for the Earth. This book touched on some things I didn't learn until high school but made so easy to understand most students could understand. I also loved the illustration and how it explained scale. ( )

This book is wonderfully written. The book promotes science, recycling, knowledge about microbes, and good hygiene. This book also is not in my opinion to advanced for a young audience because it exposes students to germs and actual good hygiene.

This book can be used in a science lesson or even as a book to read ending a day in class. As a science lesson I would teach this book to explain germs and how germs are microbes that can make people sick. I just love this book simply because it would pair good with also teaching a science lesson about recycling and how the earth can break down food because of microbes. You can do a visual representation of food rotting to explain how microbes break down food. This book is honestly a brilliant way to teach about microbes and how microbes effect humans, the earth, and anything on earth. ( )

This book takes you on a trip through the world of microbes. Small and smaller, microbes are described with comparisons that help you understand the real size of them. The book also talks about the many jobs microbes perform, and how much we really need them, as well as about the bad ones that can hurt us.

I love the illustrations in this book. It is informative, yet the microscope view illustrations seem so artistic and eye-catching. This would really be fun to share with students as a part of a science unit or a unit about hygiene. The comparisons of size put the tininess of microbes in perspective for me, and the positive view of microbes as performing many beneficial roles we couldn't live without, is something that kids need to learn!