What do you think?
Rate this book
Nema and the Xenos: A Story of Soil Cycles
The tale of a tiny worm, the bacteria that live inside her, and a tree being munched on by a grub.
This is a story about tiny creatures that live in the darkness of the soil.
When a tree cries out in pain, some unexpected heroes come to the rescue. Nema and her gang of young nematodes (tiny worms) embark on a dangerous journey underground. The Xenos, a group of wise but deadly bacteria, hitch a ride. The story of how they help the tree is full of action, life-or-death challenges and microscopic warfare. It is a story of co-operation and ancient partnership, about events happening all over the Earth, in the hidden worlds beneath our feet.
This is a story about tiny creatures that live in the darkness of the soil.
When a tree cries out in pain, some unexpected heroes come to the rescue. Nema and her gang of young nematodes (tiny worms) embark on a dangerous journey underground. The Xenos, a group of wise but deadly bacteria, hitch a ride. The story of how they help the tree is full of action, life-or-death challenges and microscopic warfare. It is a story of co-operation and ancient partnership, about events happening all over the Earth, in the hidden worlds beneath our feet.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2019
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2021
I adore this series of Small Friends books from Scale Free Network, and I've featured both the prior books on Small Things Considered, where a review on this and The Forest in the Tree: How Fungi Shape the Earth will appear soon.
In this one, our protagonist Nema joins other nematode companions on a wonderfully illustrated underground journey. Things start with chemical signals of pain from a tree whose roots are being attacked by a voracious baby grub. On their way, Nema and her friends face dangers including predatory fungi and hungry mites, but also encounter benign or helpful organisms as well, including an adorably supportive tardigrade! Soon, they pick up some bacteria who will be key to the help they bring to the tree: Xenorhabdus that colonize Nema for transmission into the grub. There, the parasitoid warfare begins, as the bacteria defeat the grub, saving the tree and providing nourishment for themselves and others.
Following this fictionalized account, the book contains a detailed section on “The Science Behind the Story”. This section is particularly useful for microbiological education, even into the adult stages of college and beyond. It's filled with additional illustrations and photographs on the organisms and geochemistry. It's richer and more visually appealing than what one would normally find in a textbook or journal review article.
Whether for yourself, to share with a child, or for education, this should be an essential addition to any microbe- or nature-lover’s library.
In this one, our protagonist Nema joins other nematode companions on a wonderfully illustrated underground journey. Things start with chemical signals of pain from a tree whose roots are being attacked by a voracious baby grub. On their way, Nema and her friends face dangers including predatory fungi and hungry mites, but also encounter benign or helpful organisms as well, including an adorably supportive tardigrade! Soon, they pick up some bacteria who will be key to the help they bring to the tree: Xenorhabdus that colonize Nema for transmission into the grub. There, the parasitoid warfare begins, as the bacteria defeat the grub, saving the tree and providing nourishment for themselves and others.
Following this fictionalized account, the book contains a detailed section on “The Science Behind the Story”. This section is particularly useful for microbiological education, even into the adult stages of college and beyond. It's filled with additional illustrations and photographs on the organisms and geochemistry. It's richer and more visually appealing than what one would normally find in a textbook or journal review article.
Whether for yourself, to share with a child, or for education, this should be an essential addition to any microbe- or nature-lover’s library.
February 15, 2020
A stunning child's picture book. It explains the soil and microbes and how they help trees. Beautifully illustrated by Aviva Reed.
July 19, 2019
Have you ever wondered what actually is in soil?
Nema and the Xenos is a story about tiny creatures that live in the darkness of the soil. Creatures small enough that we need a magnifying glass or a microscope to see them.
But this book, like others created by Small friends books & The scale free network (Zobi and the Zoox & The Squid, The Vibrio and The Moon) brings the microscopic world to life and highlights the important role they play in our world.
It can be easily used in classrooms to explore life cycles, what soil is, sustainability and the need for soil, art and how it can represent complex or tiny topics!
The story begins with a tree crying out in pain (Trees send out pain signals into the dirt around them) as it is being eaten by a baby grub.
The signals are sent far and wide and reach some heroes, tiny worms called nematodes, who carry on their backs some wise and deadly bacteria called The Xenos.
It is once we meet these bacteria, through detailed picture from a microscopic view, that we see what these amazing organisms can do to save a tree, use symbiosis and continue a beautiful life cycle.
Nema and the Xenos is a clever story that enlightens readers ages 8-12 of the detailed nature of soil and it’s inhabitants.
The illustrations are scientific and picturesque allowing young readers to see scientific diagrams and words and link this to tangible natural objects.
Life cycles of the Nematodes and Xenos are detailed with easy to understand labels and descriptions and the different organisms that exist in the soil are labelled and described.
Soil plays such an important role in the existence of healthy life. Without this symbiosis and communication taking place within healthy soils, life cannot grow and thrive.
Readers aged 8-12, their parents, teachers and librarians will love this book. It links closely to the Science curriculum along with literacy and Sustainability.
Teacher notes can be found here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/790...
Nema and the Xenos is a story about tiny creatures that live in the darkness of the soil. Creatures small enough that we need a magnifying glass or a microscope to see them.
But this book, like others created by Small friends books & The scale free network (Zobi and the Zoox & The Squid, The Vibrio and The Moon) brings the microscopic world to life and highlights the important role they play in our world.
It can be easily used in classrooms to explore life cycles, what soil is, sustainability and the need for soil, art and how it can represent complex or tiny topics!
The story begins with a tree crying out in pain (Trees send out pain signals into the dirt around them) as it is being eaten by a baby grub.
The signals are sent far and wide and reach some heroes, tiny worms called nematodes, who carry on their backs some wise and deadly bacteria called The Xenos.
It is once we meet these bacteria, through detailed picture from a microscopic view, that we see what these amazing organisms can do to save a tree, use symbiosis and continue a beautiful life cycle.
Nema and the Xenos is a clever story that enlightens readers ages 8-12 of the detailed nature of soil and it’s inhabitants.
The illustrations are scientific and picturesque allowing young readers to see scientific diagrams and words and link this to tangible natural objects.
Life cycles of the Nematodes and Xenos are detailed with easy to understand labels and descriptions and the different organisms that exist in the soil are labelled and described.
Soil plays such an important role in the existence of healthy life. Without this symbiosis and communication taking place within healthy soils, life cannot grow and thrive.
Readers aged 8-12, their parents, teachers and librarians will love this book. It links closely to the Science curriculum along with literacy and Sustainability.
Teacher notes can be found here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/790...
December 28, 2019
Beautifully illustrated, this is a wonderful introduction to biology, specifically soil biology. A great start for young children.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews