Unseen Jungle
Eleanor Spicer Rice, illustrated by Rob Wilson
mitKidsPress (Walker Books)

This book is all about microbes, microbes of all kinds. Microbes as defined herein are ‘any living creature that’s too small to see’, many of which live either in or on our bodies, in our homes, on pets and in the food we eat, in our toothbrushes even; pretty much anywhere you can think of. Some however, you would probably not want to think of at all; but rest assured, the majority are beneficial. No matter, the entomologist author introduces them in such a chatty, humorous manner that you are most likely to become fascinated before you finish House, the first of four parts into which the book is divided.

For example, most of us find houseflies annoying and so might be particularly interested in learning of a fungus (Entomorphthora muscae, if you want to impress your friends) that could land on an unsuspecting fly, makes a tube through the fly’s body, grows roots (hyphae) and starts digesting its organs, eventually reaching its brain and from there is able to control the fly’s behaviour, eventually causing its death. The cycle though begins all over again thanks to a multitude of spores that spill out of the zombified fly’s body.

Also included in this section is an interview with a public health vet that will allay the fears of anyone pregnant that has a dog: apparently one microbe found in dogs and other pets is linked to lower rates of allergies in children. Interviews with other scientists with different specialities are scattered throughout the book.

Also scattered through the book are Rob Wilson’s small, comical illustrations that further add to the joys found between its covers.

Did you know that without termites and their power farts we would not have rainforests? This is just one of the mind-blowing things I discovered as I read part one.

I will leave you to discover the delights of the book’s other parts – Yard, Food and You. With its extensive bibliography and even a drawing lesson (a comic style E. coli), it’s definitely worth adding to KS2 collections and family bookshelves.