Germs

This is a brief children’s book about the germs, and good and bad bacteria in and around us. It would be a good addition to a science lesson or to start conversations. The pages are boldly colored with silly, abstract illustrations.

This is a cute way to give young children some concept of what germs are, in a time when they are ever-present in the cultural dialogue.

I love the artwork and hope this can help in explaining germs to little ones- without leaving them overly fearful everywhere they go.

A cute book set on a preschool level that explains viruses, bacteria, etc. This book is full of colorful illustrations and is presented in a way to make preschoolers laugh, but also maybe remember to wash their hands. This book would be a great addition to a home library.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a mini children’s book about the germs, and good and bad bacteria in and around us.
It would be a good addition to a science lesson or even to start conversations with little ones.
The pages are boldly coloured with silly, abstract illustrations.
My 5 and 7 year old nephews loved it!
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have no idea why kids are so into stinky, disgusting and yucky things, but my daughter's eyes definitely sparkled when I told her that we were going to read about germs and bacteria. The drawings are hilarious in this book - colourful, funny and memorable, and the language is informative yet not too scientific. It grabbed my kid's attention and glued her to the pages. Science and learning in general is fun with books like this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for an Advance Review Copy.

This brightly illustrated little book decodes some recently scary words and helps kidz make sense of some of the nagging that grownups do. Like wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. It explains that germs are what are called viruses, bacteria, and fungus while also explaining that some of these make you sick while others are good (think cheese and yogurt). Loved it! The illustrations are delightful, imaginative, striking, and colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially toa school or a public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Pushkin Press/Pushkin Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

There are so many children’s books about germs but I really enjoy the one simplified what we know about germs and made it understandable and interesting for children. By using funny language that kids relate to, this book brings germs to the kids and talks about not just the bad germs but those good ones too like gut bacteria. The illustrations are adorable and funny (even if they’re sometimes gross) and definitely geared toward children. This is a solid addition to the germ stories we’ve seen previously for children.

This was cute little book that introduces young kids to important topics in microbiology. The colors are very eye catching and the science was explained in a way that could be easily understood. It was an entertaining way to introduce topics that will be expanded on in a child’s future education. Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced reader copy.

Microbiology topic explained in the simplest way for young readers! The vector-styled illustration is both amusing and engaging.
This book can be a first step for young readers to learn about germs and the preventative steps.
A must have book for a preschool library.

As a mama, I struggle to explain germs to my daughter. She likes to put her hand in her mouth at any time. She is good about washing after the bathroom and before eating but ugh!

This book explained germs so well for little kids. The photos were great and not too scary. I definitely recommend this one!

This is a really good introduction to what germs are for kids. The illustrations are bright and colorful which helped keep mine engaged and asking questions. There are no cutesy rhymes in this, just information to teach your kids what germs are and how there are good germs and bad germs. Definitely a good one to have if you have young kiddos that are starting school that might need some extra reinforcement on hand washing!

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.

This was a very informative book and very colorful. I like that it talked about the bad and good germs that are out there and in our bodies. I would recommend this book.

I loved everything about this book. It took a serious subject and managed to make it simple and approachable for anyone from 3 to 103. The illustrations were brilliant, and drove all those germ facts home.

Want to know what is in that ouchy flu shot? Or what it was like to have yucky diarrhea from food poisoning back before running water and flushing toilets? Maybe discover that not all germs are villains, and there are bazillions inside you RIGHT NOW? This book has all the answers, and more.

Children's non-fiction is a hard genre to get right, because so many facts aren't that interesting to little minds. Bravo to Devolle for taking such a timely subject and giving it the pizzazz no kid could resist.

The illustrations were colorful and fun. The book was an interesting way for young children to learn about germs. I particularly enjoyed the pages about the old times and why everyone got sick all the time.

This book is a great intro to germs for little kids. I like the illustrations - the little germ bugs are adorable and not scary. I also liked how the book talks about how not all bacteria etc. are bad. The book is informative but in an easy going way. I would definitely read this one to my kinders when we talk about the importance of hand washing and not picking your nose. Thank you Netgalley for this advance copy!

What a lovely way to introduce a potentially scary topic to younger children. Too often, children now hear the word germs and panic about becoming ill. This bright and colourful book will introduce children, and adults, to the idea that germs are also beneficial. I'll definitely be purchasing a copy for our school library.

I LOVED this children's book! I've been trying for a while to explain to my young children the importance of washing our hands to get rid of germs. This book was very helpful in explaining the harm that viruses and bacteria can do. They enjoyed the illustration and the writing was simple for them to understand (they are 3 and 5.) I highly recommend this book and I think it would be perfect for the classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press, Pushkin Children's Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.