Germs are everywhere. And when most of us think of them, we think of bad germs. Like the ones that cause us to feel nauseated, or have diarrhea, or get a cold. But there are also good germs that help us stay healthy. Bethany’s Barton’s cute and fun picture book, I’m Trying to Love Germs, helps teach kids about different kinds of microbes and what they do.

told by a talking germ, the book is a great way to get children interested in science. It defines microbes as “teeny-tiny living things” that can be helpful or harmful. Pathogens make people sick. Microbes help keep us healthy. So do things like fungi, good bacteria and viruses, and protozoa. Many words are in large print, so it’s easy for young readers to follow the story. And the illustrations are often squiggly and wiggly and colorful.

A page in the back talks about how washing hands is one of the easiest ways to protect us from bad germs. I’m Trying to Love Germs is the kind of picture book that can be read over and over for new understanding as kids grow. And it may even inspire some of them to think about being a scientist who studies germs when they grow up.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.