Tiny Creatures

May 26, 2014
Zoologist and children’s author Davies (Outside Your Window) adds another book about the natural world to her extensive repertoire as she introduces microbes to readers. A straightforward narrative packed with comparisons sheds light on “the invisible transformers of our world,” while clever, inviting watercolors help put those comparisons into context. Sutton’s paintings, reminiscent of mid 20th-century children’s book art with their subtle hues and naïve styling, lend a nostalgic, almost cozy feel to the pages. In one spread, smiling, waving people in a skyline full of towering buildings illustrate the idea that “A single drop of seawater can hold twenty million microbes. That’s about the same as the number of people in New York State.” Another spread contains circular vignettes like petri dishes under a microscope, each with a different microbe: “Some are skinny. Some have wiggling tails. Some look like daisies.” An apparent brother-sister duo appear throughout—getting stomachaches, gardening—to demonstrate the connection between these ubiquitous microbes and human life. Davies and Sutton illuminate the world of germs, fermenters, and composters in a charming, succinct package. Ages 5–8.