Overview

New paperback edition, now with over forty black-and-white illustrations, glossary, notes and bibliography, and index. Mmm-mmm, microbes! Although we are accustomed to equating the presence of microbes with disease, in fact, most microbes play a vital friendly role in shaping our lives. Microbes are everywhere, and we cannot survive without them. In the course of her eye-opening narrative, Dr. Farrell relates the historical significance of using microbes to preserve foods, our long-standing ambivalence about the microbes that live on and in us, and our growing understanding of their importance.

Full Product Details

9781250057044

Table of Contents

Reviews

* Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject. There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review * Intriguing. -- The Horn Book, starred review * A broad ranging and imminently readable book. Never talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, she presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing scientific study of these amazing life forms. -- Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. -- Kirkus Reviews Lively and engaging. A fascinating read. -- Booklist This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. -- VOYA Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject . . . There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review Farrell offers intriguing insights into human dependence on microbes . . . Informative. Nearly all nonfiction readers will connect with this enjoyable introduction to microbes, whether they think they're interested in science or not. --Horn Book, 2005 edition, starred review A fascinating, broad ranging, and imminently readable book on the beneficial roles of microbes . . . Without talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, Farrell presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing study of these amazing life-forms. --Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. --Kirkus Reviews Students who will not read anything might well be hooked by this one. Its use in the classroom is easily applicable in a science, history, or foods class. This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. --VOYA, starred review Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject . . . There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review Farrell offers intriguing insights into human dependence on microbes . . . Informative. Nearly all nonfiction readers will connect with this enjoyable introduction to microbes, whether they think they re interested in science or not. Horn Book, 2005 edition, starred review A fascinating, broad ranging, and imminently readable book on the beneficial roles of microbes . . . Without talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, Farrell presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing study of these amazing life-forms. Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. Kirkus Reviews Students who will not read anything might well be hooked by this one. Its use in the classroom is easily applicable in a science, history, or foods class. This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. VOYA, starred review Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject. There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review Intriguing. The Horn Book, starred review A broad ranging and imminently readable book. Never talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, she presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing scientific study of these amazing life forms. Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. Kirkus Reviews Lively and engaging. A fascinating read. Booklist This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. VOYA * Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject. There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review * Intriguing. The Horn Book, starred review * A broad ranging and imminently readable book. Never talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, she presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing scientific study of these amazing life forms. Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. Kirkus Reviews Lively and engaging. A fascinating read. Booklist This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. VOYA

* Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject. There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , starred review * Intriguing. -- The Horn Book , starred review * A broad ranging and imminently readable book. Never talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, she presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing scientific study of these amazing life forms. -- Booklist , starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. -- Kirkus Reviews Lively and engaging. A fascinating read. -- Booklist This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. -- VOYA

Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject. There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review Intriguing. The Horn Book, starred review A broad ranging and imminently readable book. Never talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, she presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing scientific study of these amazing life forms. Booklist, starred review This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. Kirkus Reviews Lively and engaging. A fascinating read. Booklist This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. VOYA

Farrell brings an engaged and thoughtful approach to her subject . . . There's enough sheer fascination in Farrell's account of the teeming microscopic world to attract general-interest gawkers, who may find more interest in science than they had expected. <i>The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, </i> starred review</p> Farrell offers intriguing insights into human dependence on microbes . . . Informative. Nearly all nonfiction readers will connect with this enjoyable introduction to microbes, whether they think they re interested in science or not. <i>Horn Book, </i> 2005 edition, starred review</p> A fascinating, broad ranging, and imminently readable book on the beneficial roles of microbes . . . Without talking down to her audience or hyping the grosser aspects of the subject, Farrell presents what is known about beneficial microbes and acknowledges the ongoing study of these amazing life-forms. <i>Booklist, </i>starred review</p> This page-turner will persuade young readers, if not to love the microbes in which we are all more or less immersed, at least to appreciate them. <i>Kirkus Reviews</i></p> Students who will not read anything might well be hooked by this one. Its use in the classroom is easily applicable in a science, history, or foods class. This book is science for youth at its best and a must-have. One might hope there are more books to come from this author. <i>VOYA</i>, starred review</p>

Author Information

Jeanette Farrell, as a girl, worked on weekends at a tuberculosis sanatorium in Kentucky founded by her father. After graduating from college, she volunteered for a leprosy relief agency in India. She is now a doctor in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available