Tag mit Kids Press

Unseen Jungle

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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.

Masked Hero

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Masked Hero
Dr Shan Woo Liu, Kaili Liu Gormley and Lisa Wee
mit Kids Press


The co-authors of this book – a mother and daughter – both descendants of their subject, tell the story of Wu Lien-teh. Born in 1879, he grew up in what was then Malaya in a happy home with his parents and ten siblings. Wanting to become a doctor, the boy studied hard both at home and school, eventually winning a scholarship to the University of Cambridge where he studied medicine.


Following medical training, came post graduate research in Great Britain and other European countries. On returning to his homeland he had trouble finding an official post due to racial discrimination, however he was undeterred, studied further in Kuala Lumpur, married and opened a medical practice. He then moved to China to lead a new medical college. However in 1910, an awful disease struck Northeast China, killing large numbers of people. Lien-teh agreed to leave his family and travel north to the city of Harbin, near the Russian border, on a rescue mission.


His observations led him to realise that the deadly disease was being spread by a bacterial germ, transmitted when people coughed.
He needed to do something urgently, so, drawing on his creativity and ingenuity, Lien-teh fashioned a new sort of multi-layered mask.

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This met with resistance from racist fellow doctors but within months the epidemic was under control.
Lien-teh continued his work, setting up hospitals and medical colleges all over China and in 1935 he became the first person of Chinese descent to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. His innovations were even crucial in the fight against COVID-19 when masks became part of the lives of us all.
‘When we wear a mask to stop a disease, we are all heroes – just like Wu Lien-teh!’ conclude the authors.


Neatly describing the medical and racist issues Lien-teh faced, as well as drawing parallels between the past and recent times, these authors pay tribute to an amazing person who still hasn’t really received all the credit he deserves. Stylised illustrations by Lisa Wee help bring him to life on the page and the back matter includes some black and white photos.


An inspiring pictorial STEM biography to add to classroom collections.