It must be difficult to write a nonfiction book for young children that will both instruct and keep a child engaged in continuing to read. Germs by John Devolle (Pushkin Press, June 2023) is a nonfiction picture book that nicely balances facts with humor and amusing bright geometric illustrations.
I was amazed at the amount of information included in this picture book for children: facts about viruses, how one contracts viruses and avoids getting the germs, types of microorganisms, vaccines and antibiotics, and good bacteria in our bodies. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a children’s picture book at such a young level tackle so many subtopics in one book! The best part is that the text is broken up with subtle (and not so subtle) humor to keep the reader entertained. For example, one page explains that you should not eat that sausage that you found in your pocket from last winter. Another page adds a footnote that it’s not a good idea to lick a moldy orange.
I’ll say the funniest part of the book is the discussion about what life was like before germs were understood. There is a very silly spread mentioned how people got sick in the past because they didn’t know how to avoid germs . . . complete with images of a knight on a toilet-bucket and a vomiting princess. In fact, these types of over-the-top illustrations keep the book visually interesting. The bright and colorful images are certainly memborable, and while the geometric art may not be to everyone’s taste, it nicely captures the humor in this slim book about, of all things, germs.
Germs would be a hit in a science storytime to leap into a unit about microorganisms, illness, vaccines, and more. I wish those who don’t quite understand vaccines would give this a look too. Our world can use more straight-forward but engaging nonfiction, like this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
