Taking on colds
Description
Subjects
Cold (Disease)
Cold (Disease) -- Juvenile literature
Cold (Disease) -- Prevention -- Juvenile literature
Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
Health & Daily Living
Health Behavior
Health Behavior -- Juvenile literature
Hygiene
Hygiene -- Juvenile literature
Immunology
Immunology -- Juvenile literature
Juvenile Nonfiction
Prevention
Science & Nature
Published Reviews
Booklist Review
Children have been getting lots of messages recently about washing their hands and wearing masks. The Germ Invaders series (6 titles) comes along at a perfect time to explain why these actions are so important, offering reassurance and empowering kids to take care of themselves. Featuring bright graphics, upbeat styles, super-hero motifs, accessible language, and relatable scenarios, the series shows how immune systems spring into action when threatened by outside threats, whether viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or fungi. Taking On Colds is equally engaging, and considers how people catch colds, cold versus flu symptoms, and healthy habits that keep colds at bay. There's a bit of overlap between these titles, but the repetition serves as reinforcement, and each title can stand on its own. It should be noted that the volume on COVID-19 is already outdated and best skipped if purchasing the series. The other three titles offer balanced coverage and generic advice that should stand the test of time, and as such make attractive additions to STEM collections.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--6--These eye-catching books explore the body's immune system, the science of fighting germs, and a few major respiratory infections, including COVID-19. With germ-fighting cartoon superheroes, the illustrations are colorful, bold, and engaging. Each book states the four types of germs (fungi, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa), then goes on to inform how the germs make you sick and how the body and medicine fight the germs to make you well again. Some history of scientific innovations is also included. Though the illustrations will have younger kids pulling these books off the shelves, the writing attempts to cover too much advanced content in a small space, leaving readers confused. VERDICT While the illustrations are appealing, the disconnect between the simple sentence structure and the breadth of advanced content makes these books easily confusing for readers.