Gut Garden: A Journey Into the Wonderful World of Your Microbiome

Tubby, expressive microbes guide readers through this deceptively comprehensive, gleefully illustrated guide to the human microbiome. Brosnan starts with the basics ("What Are Microbes?") and progresses through "Microbes in the World" and pathogens ("The Bad Guys"). Discussions of microbes in the body include detailed explorations of how microbes aid digestion, the flourishing "gut garden" of the large intestine, and the immune system. Bright spreads alive with Brosnan's colorful, loose-lined illustrations hold oodles of information broken up in digestible chunks, peppered with the microbes' speech-bubble comments, which mix captivating facts ("Inside your mouth there are over 500 species of microbes") with the occasional fart joke. Ages 6-10. (Apr.)

Gr 2-6--This illustrated exploration of the body's gut garden opens with a description of the main categories of microbes (fungi, bacteria, viruses) followed by a brief explanation of the role that microbes play in the world. The focus then turns to the relationship between microbes and the human body. Brosnan describes the symbiotic and largely positive relationship humans have with most microbes as well as the existence of more harmful pathogenic microbes. Next, the text examines how microbes work in the digestive system and how important it is to cultivate a healthy gut microbiome for optimal health. The illustrations are colorful and painterly; each page of this slightly oversize title is filled with anthropomorphized microbes and depictions of the human digestive system that complement the clear and scientific text. The final spread is devoted to the exciting future of microbial research; there is much to discover about the connection between our microbiome and autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease. VERDICT An effective combination of clear science writing and entertaining illustrations. A great addition to any children's library or as a complementary text for science classes studying the microbiome.--Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn