Germs (Great Medical Discoveries)

Nardo, Don

ISBN 10: 1590182553 ISBN 13: 9781590182550

Publisher: Lucent, 2003

Synopsis

Germs are everywhere, as this fascinating overview of the subject explains. Some germs are harmful, causing debilitating diseases, while others are beneficial, helping humans and animals to digest food. Covered is the discovery of germs, how some cause disease, how others aid living things, and how various industries have learned to use some germs to improve the quality of human life and communities.

About this title

From Booklist

Reviewed with P. M. Boekhoff and Stuart Kallen's Lasers.

Gr. 4-5. These two titles in the KidHaven Science Library series offer wide-angle overviews of their topics. Nardo defines germs in the broadest possible way, including not only viruses and bacteria but also protozoans, microscopic fungi, and even algae; he emphasizes that, while many of these engender diseases, most are harmless or even beneficial to humans. Boekhoff and Kallen discuss lasers from Einstein's description of their basic principles to today's pervasive devices, tallying their uses in medicine, recreation, military endeavors, and heavy and fine industry. The color photos in the volumes are more decorative than enlightening, but both books close with lists of recent resources, and Lasers cites a (commercial) Web site, too. The level of detail in Germs makes it a good follow-up to Melvin Berger's Germs Make Me Sick! (1995), and Lasers is an acceptable alternative or companion for several titles currently in print. John Peters
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Review

"These refreshingly readable yet thorough descriptions of important scientific developments relate procedures and principles in a clear and accurate manner."
-- "School Library Journal" (May 2002)

About this edition

• Publisher: Lucent
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1590182553
• ISBN 13: 9781590182550
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 128