Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes

Our Natural World

by Dr Nicola Davies

Japanese edition of Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes. English biologist Davies introduces the strange realm of microbes, their functions, and incredible abilty to thrive in any environment. Wonderful book on the introduction of microscopic creatures. In Japanese. Annotation copyright Tsai Fong Books, Inc. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Childrens, Nature, Stem, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2014

Reviews

[Spencer Orey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's really hard in books for kids to find a balance between educational and interesting. This one nails it. The illustrations are awesome, and the points about microbes are somehow both accessible and profound. It's a rad book. Read it to your kids.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Abbie Stagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely non-fiction picture book extremely useful to introduce younger KS1 children to the world of microbes, making a complex topic simple and appealing enough for primary school children to understand. It allows the children to explore the beautiful illustrations and gives them the opportunity to notice the recurring characters on each page. It provides a good opportunity to introduce younger children to science and the world of microbes, early on and in an interesting way. Non-fiction picture books are very useful in breaking the stigma that non-fiction books are boring, and only contain a large amount of text, especially this one as it contains all the information necessary but appeals more to younger children with the illustrations. Overall, a useful read for an introduction to a new Science topic perhaps.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat!Years ago children only learned about "germs" and there was no distinction between good and bad germs, size (other than we can't see them, but they make you sick), or the vast universe of germs. No, it was simply not a viable educational subject until somewhere along high school.

In Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes the author and illustrator bring this vast universe of microbes (germs) to the young child - even the non-reader. The book is suitable for non-readers and on well into elementary school. Microbes are so much more than germs that make one sick. They change the world. They create different substances out of original substances. They are the stuff that compost is made of. The stuff that makes yogurt into yogurt.

They come in a plethora of shapes; and they are, simply put, everywhere! They are energetically and magically adept at making more of themselves.

The illustrations are simply drawn with colors that engage visually. The little boy and girl that are discovering the world of microbes are drawn in such a sweet, charming manner that your little boy or girl will identify with them as they discover microbes.

A super good book to introduce children to the science of the unseen world of microbes of which germs are only a small part.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press in exchange for my review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this review.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Creatures – The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton – Non-fiction – This author is ridiculously talented at making topics sound so fascinating and writing them in a way that begs to be read aloud. Interesting to read about the little creatures that do some of the biggest things. Interesting story to share with my students when we’retaking about habitats, creatures, how things work…

[Rohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful informative book. I love the non fiction kids section at our library!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Japanese edition was a good challenge.

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet non-fiction book about microbes with adorable illustrations!
Great to introduce the subject to younger children. ❤

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book is a terrific introduction to the world of microbiology! The author looks at microbes using kid-friendly, approachable language and beautiful illustrations to compare the size of these creatures to known objects in the world, discuss how they reproduce to grow their numbers very quickly, and some of the results of their activity. This would be an awesome resource to have in my classroom library.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't many children's books on this topic, so I was pleased to find this an excellent introduction to microbes, explained simply enough so that children can understand. I learned a few things myself! Highly recommended!

[Becket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating, and only a little bit icky. The facts about microbes are presented (both visually and textually) in an age-appropriate way, and the illustrations are attractive and lively. A great "here's why" book for curious kids.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Extremely accessible information about an almost abstract topic, made even more so by the illustrations. High read aloud potential - I foresee a companion lesson to an upcoming food chain lesson.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

My last 2014 Winter #Bookaday! The illustrations are fantastic in this simple picture book about microbes and their role as "the invisible transformers of our world - the tiniest lives doing some of the biggest jobs"

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book which celebrates the complexity of microbes and puts them into perspectives that young children can understand. It will spark interest in something many kids haven't learned about beyond "wash your hands so you don't spread germs." I will be sharing it with everyone I can.

[Abril G. Karera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precioso libro para introducir a los niños en el fascinante mundo de los microbios. Y el final es ese tipo de finales joya que demuestran que los libros informativos también pueden hacerse con amor.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud for pathogens unit

[Lauren Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book to read with loads of interesting and cool facts that i believe children would love.
The illustrations by Emily Sutton are amazing and complement the story really well. My favourite page has to be the waves and mountains page - the brush strokes used are simple, yet wonderful.

[Andi Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect way to explain coronavirus to my autistic son. Clean, clear language about different types of microbes. The sequence of how they multiply and change things they consume, was easily understood.

[Kelley Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great narrative nonfiction. I read it to fifth grade, and the amount of hand wiping, face grimacing, gross out was impressive. Not a lot of specific information, but a great introduction to the trillions of tiny creatures that make our life possible.

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally record the picture books I read but I want to make sure I remember this one we checked out from the library. The illustrations are beautiful and it does a great job explaining microbes in a simple appealing way without feeling dumbed down.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK. An accessible introduction to microbes for 1st through 3rd grade. Definitely read aloud to students, pausing for space to "oooo" and "aaah." I'd even be tempted to use it with older students as an introduction to more complex texts on this topic. Davies, the author, talks to you, the reader, in a conversation-like tone, with clear descriptions and explanations and simple analogies. The pace is gentle, providing the reader time to absorb the ideas--in other words the text is not dense with a lot of facts like so many texts on this topic. I learned a tremendous amount--maybe as a result of the the pace, and the layout and design. The illustrations are magnificent, supporting the ideas in the text but also leaving some room for thinking on your own. You could read this aloud and then leave it in the classroom library for rereading.

Next Generation Science Standards - this could be used to as part of units that integrate the 2nd Grade Biological Evolution--Unity and Diversity standards and the 3rd Grade From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes standards.

Common Core Standards -

First just enjoy the book with students! Read it aloud providing time for students to look closely at the illustrations and just wonder or be in awe of this amazing creature, the microbe.
Then--reread and think about the author's main topic/idea--what is the author trying to tell us that's important? There are tiny organisms everywhere. Some are bad, but most are good and have important roles in nature. Engage in shared writing of a main idea and then ask students to elaborate with illustrations and additional details. (RI 1.2, 2.2, 3.2)
Take time to look closely at one of the amazing illustrations - what does Emily Sutton do in one of these illustrations to contribute to and clarify the text? How do both the text and illustration convey a key idea? (RI 1.6, 1.7, 2.5, 2.7, 3.5) Copy one of the illustrations (once, for school-use only) and ask students to write their thoughts on a sticky note and then post the illustration and the sticky notes for all to view. You might do this for several pages or several books and make a display over time. You could also turn this into a reading response center.
Use this book as a mentor for writing - pull excerpts that describe, or excerpts with comparisons, engage in shared writing to "try out" what Davies does, and then coach students to try this in their own writing - on whatever topic they are studying.

This book is a gem. I didn't want it to end.

[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicola Davies’s book, beautifully illustrated by Emily Sutton introduces children to the fascinating world of microbes. Having no doubt that the young readers already know a lot about big animals and tiny creatures, Nicola Davies complements their knowledge by inviting them to explore the world of micro-organisms, ingeniously combining scientific facts with great narrative skills.

"Do you know that there are creatures so tiny that millions could fit on this ant’s antenna? So tiny that we’d have to make the ant’s antenna as big as a whale to show them to you?"

Despite the fact that they are invisible, microbes are everywhere – in the sea, on land, in the soil, in the air, and even on our skin or inside our body. They reproduce extremely fast, doubling their number every twenty minutes.

"Right now there are more microbes living on your skin than there are people on Earth, and there are ten or even a hundred times as many as that in your tummy. (Don’t worry, although microbes sometimes make you sick, the ones that live in you and on you all the time help to keep you well)."

Preoccupied to keep the little ones healthy we always tell them about germs, forgetting to mention in our attempts to widen their scientific horizons that microbes have other contributions too. Tiny reminds readers that microbes turn our food into compost, the milk into yogurt, the rocks into soil and that

See full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nonfiction text in picture book format. Lovely comparisons with the number of people living in various places. Talks about the visual characteristics of various microbes (classification) and how fast they reproduce.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

They can look like spaceships, they can live in volcanos, and they are essential to life on earth. Welcome to the incredible world of microbes. This engaging and child-friendly book effectively brings to life an abstract concept for young readers. Written by zoologist Nicola Davies, the accessible text draws readers in by using amazing facts to introduce readers to the concept of microbes. For example one drop of seawater contains twenty million microbes--approximately the number of people in New York State. A friendly cat and two freckled tykes visually depict the text and offer scale and relatability. The vintage folk-art watercolor illustrations by Sutton are beautiful--full of delightful details and rich patterns. Full spread illustrations of a wiggly paramecium, blustery seaside cliffs, and luxuriant garden are a feast for the eyes. The illustrations extend the text and provide space for adult-child interaction. While demonstrating the important role microbes play, the text lacked examples of how they affect the human body, aside from making us sick. Resources would have been a welcome addition to the back matter. Overall, the text and illustrations work well to foster conversations and encourage further exploration about these tiny remarkable creatures that shape our world.

I learned that vintage folk-art might mean only white characters and a stereotyped and outdated view of India.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are tiny creatures all around us that do the most amazing things! Microbes are too small to be seen by the human eye, but look through a microscope and you enter a world of them. There are microbes like viruses that cause diseases or colds. And there are others that are very good for our health and turn milk into yogurt and compost into dirt. Microbes may be very small but their impact on our world and our lives is very big. This book shows the huge impact they have and how much we need to appreciate them.

Davies has written very engagingly about microbes in this book. When talking about something like microbes, the numbers can get too large to understand, but Davies nicely ties these huge numbers to others that make sense. She shows how quickly a microbe can reproduce using the page of the book. The entire book is cleverly done, exposing the facts about microbes in a friendly and approachable way.

The illustrations by Sutton show both the microbes and their effect on the world. The pages with the tiny microbes are fascinating as one gets to see the different types up close. The illustrations have a friendly charm about them that makes the subject matter even more fun to read.

A great book on microbes, this will encourage children to pick up a microscope and learn even more about these tiny little creatures. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Laura (Amys) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Microbes don't have eyes, heads, legs, branches, roots or leaves but they are living things that we cannot see. There are many types and they come in a variety of shapes. They do a very different things. These microbes help the world in many ways. They might cause you to get sick but they also help break down food into compost, transform milk into yogurt, rocks into soil, recycle dead plants and animals along with many other beneficial things.

This children's book goes on to describe how these microbes affect our lives, where they are and the size and shapes they take. It has wonderful scientific knowledge described in great detail that fits a wide range of students' comprehension level and background knowledge. I absolutely love this book and feel it would be a great asset in the classroom. It provides realistic comparisons to how many microbes you would see in a scoop of dirt or on an ants antenna. This is an extremely descriptive informational book that can be used in 1st- 6th grade.

This book could also be used as a mentor text to show students how to us presentation in their writing. The author does a fabulous job of using various font sizes that go along with splitting things to make them bigger, differing fonts, creating lists, labeling items and, my favorite, intertwining text with the pictures.

[Suzanne Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes is a picture book about microorganisms in the world around us. Nicola Davies discusses size, number, types, reproduction, and their affect on us and the world. The book does an excellent job of making a complex topic accessible for young children. For example, she explains that there are 20 million microbes in a drop of seawater which is the same number of people in New York State. Davies explains how powerful microbes are in terms of changing, making, and recycling things in our world. She includes information about germs and how they get transmitted in a thoughtful, balanced way that informs but won’t scare children. Emily Sutton's illustrations pair very well with the writing. The bright colors with muted tones are inviting for young children but sophisticated enough for any age. The layout on pages such as the shapes, splitting, and sizes of different microbes makes the complex look simple. It is refreshing that this important science topic is written at a level where even emergent readers could read on their own, yet older elementary students could benefit as well from the content. This book is as good and informative as watching a segment of Cosmos. A must have for public and school libraries as well as anyone interested in science.

[Rebecca Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This text is a fascinating introduction into the world of microbes. While the text itself would work for K-2, the content and concepts would work well for 3-5. The text discusses the complex nature of microbes. The variance in size, the purpose, and the growth rates. I loved how microbes were described as mostly good and serving a purpose instead of just being described as a one size fits all "germ."
There are so many ways that this book can be used. Firstly, as an informational text to increase English Language Arts skills. Secondly, as an introduction into microbes and organisms in science. And lastly, as an application of math skills, students could figure out how many microbes would exist after a certain amount of time. It would pose an engaging question that connects to science and language arts.
I decided that this was a wow book because it covers an interesting and rare topic in children's literature. There were many subjects that the text could be used for. All of these reasons combined with the interesting writing and beautiful illustrations created a useful text.

[Xinwen Xu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers what microbes are. The book starts out by telling the reader how small microbes are and how many there are in a single drop of seawater. The book continues on to tell the reader that microbes are found everywhere but are not a human nor an animal. There are many different types of microbes and they have many different shapes and sizes. Microbes eat everything and do this by soaking up what they need through their skin. Microbes multiply quickly, doubling each time. The book tells of how microbes can get us sick, how microbes enter our bodies and the importance of washing hands. Microbes recycle everything that dies. Microbes are invisible but doing the biggest jobs.
The author set this book up in a description by categories format. This book gave a large amount of information regarding microbes. There were explanations given throughout this book. The narrative used was upbeat and keeps readers engaged. The book is designed for younger readers and the author kept this in mind by using simple terms to explain something that can be complex. This book makes readers become more curious which is what the textbook says a good informational text should do.

[Lisa Sandidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers what microbes are. The book starts out by telling the reader how small microbes are and how many there are in a single drop of seawater. The book continues on to tell the reader that microbes are found everywhere but are not a human nor an animal. There are many different types of microbes and they have many different shapes and sizes. Microbes eat everything and do this by soaking up what they need through their skin. Microbes multiply quickly, doubling each time. The book tells of how microbes can get us sick, how microbes enter our bodies and the importance of washing hands. Microbes recycle everything that dies. Microbes are invisible but doing the biggest jobs.

The author set this book up in a description by categories format. This book gave a large amount of information regarding microbes. There were explanations given throughout this book. The narrative used was upbeat and keeps readers engaged. The book is designed for younger readers and the author kept this in mind by using simple terms to explain something that can be complex. This book makes readers become more curious which is what the textbook says a good informational text should do.