Tuesday 2 November 2021

The Good Germ Hotel by Kim Sung-hwa, Kwon Su-Jin and Kim Ryung-eon (Children's, non-fiction, 9/10E)

 


 March 2021, What On Earth Publishing, 48 pages, Hardback, Review copy 

Book summary 

Did you know that your body is full of bacteria? And that most of it is good bacteria that helps to keep you healthy? Well, now's your chance to get up close and personal with the microorganisms that live inside all of us. Travel through the body with our gut bacteria guide, stopping off to meet the other amazing microbe residents along the way.

In today's pandemic climate, bad germs and bacteria are the subject of many conversations. This book helps children learn that not all bacteria are bad and introduces them to all the good germs in the body that help us fight viruses and infections. The dialogue around good gut health has also been gaining traction in recent years, so The Good Germ Hotel is the perfect place to visit to get to know your gut microbiota.

 

Nayu's thoughts 

Germs are a huge part of our daily lives, especially since the recent pandemic that is still going on. There is a wealth of information about germs, and The Good Germ Hotel explores everything relating to germs in a matter of fact way, using amusing illustrations to show what germs do and how they work. The illustration styles reminds me a little of a childhood book I read, Fungus the Bogeyman by Raymond Briggs. There is so much gross stuff in The Good Germ Hotel that those who are squeamish (yes I'm raising my hand) may struggle to read much at a time, but it is worth the effort just be more knowledgeable about germs without the info being in a picture-less dull textbook. 

It's reassuring to see the good digestive bacteria being relaxed, or see the immune system fighting a virus by giving the girl in the book a fever. We need bacteria, as much as some kinds are not wanted, our bodies depend on them for survival. The highly detailed illustrations mean minutes will be spent on a page just taking in all that is there. Budding microbiologists will absorb the facts and hopefully research the topics covered for fun.

Suggested read

For more factual reads check out Amazing Islands by Sabrina Weiss and Kerry Hyndman (Non-fiction, Children's, 5 years +, 9/10E)


 

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