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Magic School Bus Science Readers
The Magic School Bus Fights Germs
Wanda is sick! Ms. Frizzle and the class will get a close look at her sore throat, but what will happen when Wanda's body mistakes the kids for germs? Climb aboard the Magic School Bus and learn all about how our bodies fight germs!
30 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
5 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews
January 14, 2016
Personal Response
I liked this book because my nephew loved it and he's six years old. He liked the pictures and how the bus changed sizes and went down Wanda's throat. I didn't like it because it is a book for little kids and I don’t like how little kids are because they get sick and i don’t like how they pick their noses.
Plot
Wanda was sent home from school with strep throat. The teacher, Mrs. Frizzle then took the time to teach the kids about germs. She told them how yicky the germs are and how they can pass from one person to another. My nephew really learned a lots from this because he does not like to wash his hands. He told me He does not like to be sick so he will start to wash his hands more and keep the germs away.
Characterization
The main characters are Ralphie, and Wanda. Wanda goes to school and doesn't feel good she has Strep throat. Wanda is the reason why the kids in the class start to learn about the germs and what they can do to your body. Ralphie and all the other students go into the school bus and shrink and go into Wanda’s throat and go into her bloodstream.
Impacts of the Setting
The main setting is in Wanda’s throat where all the germs are. This showed the other students what could happen when there are germs. Kids never realize what could happen when you sneeze on someone else and what gets into throat or even inside of their body to make them sick.
Thematic Connection
One theme in this Magic School bus book could be fear. The kids are afraid of germs after seeing the inside of Wanda’s throat. They now want to find a way to keep healthy so they don’t get sick. After seeing all the nasty germs inside of Wanda’s throat the kids fear germs and getting sick.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to little kids between kindergarten and fourth grade because they tend to get sick the most and they also need to know how easy it is to get sick and how to prevent getting sick. The pictures show a lot of cool, but nasty things that young kids really enjoy.
Rating
I rate this book three stars because it’s for little kids and little kids like books like this and it tells you how easy it is to get sick and how to prevent from getting sick. It also tells you how you can get better if you are already sick.
I liked this book because my nephew loved it and he's six years old. He liked the pictures and how the bus changed sizes and went down Wanda's throat. I didn't like it because it is a book for little kids and I don’t like how little kids are because they get sick and i don’t like how they pick their noses.
Plot
Wanda was sent home from school with strep throat. The teacher, Mrs. Frizzle then took the time to teach the kids about germs. She told them how yicky the germs are and how they can pass from one person to another. My nephew really learned a lots from this because he does not like to wash his hands. He told me He does not like to be sick so he will start to wash his hands more and keep the germs away.
Characterization
The main characters are Ralphie, and Wanda. Wanda goes to school and doesn't feel good she has Strep throat. Wanda is the reason why the kids in the class start to learn about the germs and what they can do to your body. Ralphie and all the other students go into the school bus and shrink and go into Wanda’s throat and go into her bloodstream.
Impacts of the Setting
The main setting is in Wanda’s throat where all the germs are. This showed the other students what could happen when there are germs. Kids never realize what could happen when you sneeze on someone else and what gets into throat or even inside of their body to make them sick.
Thematic Connection
One theme in this Magic School bus book could be fear. The kids are afraid of germs after seeing the inside of Wanda’s throat. They now want to find a way to keep healthy so they don’t get sick. After seeing all the nasty germs inside of Wanda’s throat the kids fear germs and getting sick.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to little kids between kindergarten and fourth grade because they tend to get sick the most and they also need to know how easy it is to get sick and how to prevent getting sick. The pictures show a lot of cool, but nasty things that young kids really enjoy.
Rating
I rate this book three stars because it’s for little kids and little kids like books like this and it tells you how easy it is to get sick and how to prevent from getting sick. It also tells you how you can get better if you are already sick.
May 11, 2021
This Magic School Bus book is all about germs and in this pressing time I think it is great to introduce kids to germs and what they entail. This book would be a great resource for that because it goes into enough detail to where they can understand the severity of it but no too much detail to frighten them or make them nervous. The pictures are awesome as well, they really capture the germs and antibodies and everything super well; especially to show children what they look like. I also love how in all of The Magic School Bus book they are so informative on whatever topic they are talking about and this one is not exception. These books bring so much joy and excitement to science which is something we need to have for our kids to get them excited and not bored by science. All of The Magic School Bus Books are a must have in my classroom, I cannot wait!!!
October 20, 2016
Personal Response
My nephew thought this book was good. He thought the part when all the kids shrank and so did the bus and went in Wanda’s mouth. And when the antibiotics started to eat the germs.
Plot
This book was about a class trip inside of Wanda's mouth. And how the white blood cells fight the germs. It also tells you how white blood cells work faster and better when their warm. And it showed you how the antibiotics fight of the germs.
Recommendations
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. Ages 4-5 would enjoy having a friend or parent read this to them because they like books that are fiction and funny. And both boys and girls would like this book
My nephew thought this book was good. He thought the part when all the kids shrank and so did the bus and went in Wanda’s mouth. And when the antibiotics started to eat the germs.
Plot
This book was about a class trip inside of Wanda's mouth. And how the white blood cells fight the germs. It also tells you how white blood cells work faster and better when their warm. And it showed you how the antibiotics fight of the germs.
Recommendations
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. Ages 4-5 would enjoy having a friend or parent read this to them because they like books that are fiction and funny. And both boys and girls would like this book
Read
November 11, 2019This science fiction story is a great choice when wanting to teach a lesson on handwashing or germs. I would use this book with elementary aged students, especially during the winter season, to teach about the importance of handwashing and minimizing the spread of germs. Ms. Frizzle, the class teacher, does an amazing job with captivating her audience with her "child-like" actions and the curitosities/scariness of some of her students.
After the story, students can practice handwashing techniques and have conversations on how to NOT spread germs!
After the story, students can practice handwashing techniques and have conversations on how to NOT spread germs!
April 3, 2020
Certainly a fun way to learn about illness and germs. A great book to read to a child feeling unwell, would likely make taking medicine a lot easier.
September 2, 2020
Ironically, we are dealing with Covid-19, virus and germs that we have to know to wash our hands and be mindful where we put our uncleaned hands. The young girl was trying to figure out in class what was making her cough--went through a series of diagnoses or assumptions, like cold and given cough drops, to taking antibiotics for a strep throat.
Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy to read and give honest opinion.
Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy to read and give honest opinion.
March 21, 2025
A nostalgic trip 😂 Did not expect to be reading the Magic School Bus in my 30s. Educational (fun facts about our immune system and bacteria) blended with a bit of fantasy, it actually reminded me of the Futurama episode "Parasites Lost".
August 19, 2020
We love the magic school bus series of books, they are very educational!
November 19, 2012
Grade/interest level: Primary (K-2nd)
Reading level: Fountas and Pinnell, J,K
Lexile: 360
Genre: Informational book
Main characters: Ms. Frizzle, Ms. Frizzle’s class (particulary Wanda)
Setting: Inside Wanda’s bloodstream
POV: Third person
It is a new day at school and Ms. Frizzle’s class is learning all about germs. Unfortunately Wanda is not feeling too well; she has a really sore throat and needs to see the nurse. Instead of teaching the students about germs, Ms. Frizzle decides to show them! The whole class hops on the magic bus, shrinks to an incredibly small size and enters Wanda’s throat as she is eating a cough drop. Inside, the students can see the bacteria all over Wanda’s throat, causing her throat ache. As the class travels deeper into her body, they can see the white blood cells trying to fight off the germs that are causing her strep throat.
I would use this in my classroom to obviously talk about how germs affect the body. I think it would be really useful for younger children because they can visually see how germs and white blood cells are illustrated. Afterwards, I would probably show the actual television series episode to my class so they can see the show after reading the book.
Reading level: Fountas and Pinnell, J,K
Lexile: 360
Genre: Informational book
Main characters: Ms. Frizzle, Ms. Frizzle’s class (particulary Wanda)
Setting: Inside Wanda’s bloodstream
POV: Third person
It is a new day at school and Ms. Frizzle’s class is learning all about germs. Unfortunately Wanda is not feeling too well; she has a really sore throat and needs to see the nurse. Instead of teaching the students about germs, Ms. Frizzle decides to show them! The whole class hops on the magic bus, shrinks to an incredibly small size and enters Wanda’s throat as she is eating a cough drop. Inside, the students can see the bacteria all over Wanda’s throat, causing her throat ache. As the class travels deeper into her body, they can see the white blood cells trying to fight off the germs that are causing her strep throat.
I would use this in my classroom to obviously talk about how germs affect the body. I think it would be really useful for younger children because they can visually see how germs and white blood cells are illustrated. Afterwards, I would probably show the actual television series episode to my class so they can see the show after reading the book.
September 11, 2013
The Magic School Bus Fights Germs is a Level 2 Scholastic Reader (featuring "vocabulary and sentence length for beginning readers") based on the Magic School Bus franchise created by Joanna Cole and starring the characters of the Magic School Bus television show.
When Wanda gets sent home from school with strep throat, Ms. Frizzle's class takes the opportunity to learn about how the human body fights germs. The class learns about germs, red and white blood cells, and antibodies; essentially, it's the same plot as the television episode, Inside Ralphie.
I'd recommend the book to parents of young children, especially those who are currently fighting off or have recently recovered from an illness such as strep throat, a flu, etcetera. However, I would also point out that I believe Inside Ralphie does a better job of covering the immune system, so I'd advise anyone who can get their hands on that episode to supplement this book with it (or substitute it entirely).
When Wanda gets sent home from school with strep throat, Ms. Frizzle's class takes the opportunity to learn about how the human body fights germs. The class learns about germs, red and white blood cells, and antibodies; essentially, it's the same plot as the television episode, Inside Ralphie.
I'd recommend the book to parents of young children, especially those who are currently fighting off or have recently recovered from an illness such as strep throat, a flu, etcetera. However, I would also point out that I believe Inside Ralphie does a better job of covering the immune system, so I'd advise anyone who can get their hands on that episode to supplement this book with it (or substitute it entirely).
March 4, 2014
This was a very nice book... It is a Level 2 reader which means a beginning reader could do. Some of the way would be tough for a very new beginger of course but one that could read on their own probably could do it. It's full of fun science stuff of true facts so the child (and adult) not only enjoys the storyline but also learns valuable science lessons in each story. The charactors are all lovable and are in each book so you get to know their personalities and get to like (or dislike) them. This book I read to my 2 year old granddaughter and she sat and listened all the way through she enjoyed it. As did my two special needs teenage children as well. The storyline is just written that way, where anyone that reads-listens will enjoy it. (The DVD's are just as good as well, so they go hand in hand)
April 16, 2012
I love the entire Magic School Bus series. This book would be great for grades 3rd through 5th grade. In this story, Mrs. Frizzle's class goes into Wanda's sick body and sees the white blood cells fight the strep throat along side the antibiotics she gets at the doctor. I would use this book when discussing what happens to our bodies when we get sick and how our bodies fight back against infections.
June 7, 2013
As always, you can hardly go wrong with this near-flawless childrens' series. Has all the hooks the kids want, colorful comic book style illustrations peppered with fun, direct, science lessons that are easy to comprehend.
I liked the relevance of this one, as flu epidemics and chronic winter colds and throat infections are described in very practical terms for those hit most often and in the context of the school where they are most likely to pick up those bugs.
I liked the relevance of this one, as flu epidemics and chronic winter colds and throat infections are described in very practical terms for those hit most often and in the context of the school where they are most likely to pick up those bugs.
June 10, 2011
My son LOVES this book. He always wants to read it. He thinks it is sooo neat how the school bus gets in to Wanda's body and they learn about how the body fights germs. It is also very informative for dear old mom too!
January 30, 2013
Magic School Bus is always great for learning science. This is a more fun version to learning about germs and what happens to our bodies when we get sick. There are informative pieces on each page and in the back it describes how to avoid spreading germs. This would be good for all students.
Read
May 20, 2011A good easy reader and introduction to why picking your nose is gross and washing your hands is important. Always fun to read Magic School Bus books.
July 1, 2015
Here is what I found interesting about this book. I think it is amazing that white cells can shoot antibodies at the germs. I want to know how germs hurt your body and how they get into your body.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews