No, it was simply not a viable educational subject until somewhere along high school. What a treat!Years ago children only learned about 'germs' and there was no distinction between good and bad germs, size (other than we can't see them, but they make you sick), or the vast universe of germs. For my own part, I intend to seek out other books from this pair! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for excellent science titles for children ages four through seven.

This one does an excellent job of explaining a complicated subject, dealing with everything from the incredibly small size of microbes to their outsized role in shaping the planet in a way that will be readily understandable for younger children. This wasn't much of a surprise, as I have also enjoyed many of the author's other books, both fiction and non-fiction. I initially sought out Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes because I was looking for more of Sutton's work, after enjoying her illustrations in such titles as Delia Huddy's The Christmas Eve Tree and Katherine Rundell's One Christmas Wish, but I ended up enjoying it as much for Davies' deceptively simple text as for the beautiful artwork. Tiny they may be, but they are mighty as well. Using simple, clear language and artwork which perfectly depicts the subject under discussion, they describe how these microscopic but prolific creatures reproduce, the diverse tasks they accomplish, and their great importance to humanity and to the larger world. British author/illustrator team Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton explore the fascinating world of microbes in this informative, beautifully-produced picture-book.

Tiny creatures the world of microbes