Bad Bug Busters: Vaccines vs. Germs

Bad Bug Busters brings children on an entertaining and educational journey into the fascinating world of the immune system, making science exciting and accessible for young readers.

Join Amelia as she discovers how the harmless 'training bugs' in vaccines transform immune cells into superheroes-always on the lookout for danger. If they find a bad bug, they fly into action, blocking, gobbling up, and exploding the bugs before they make you sick!

Written for children aged 6-10 years, Bad Bug Busters combines scientific accuracy with bright and fun illustrations. The glossary in the back provides scientific explanations of the bolded words throughout the book, offering an additional layer of learning as children grow.

The author, an immunologist and mother of two, aims to educate and motivate children to overcome their fear of shots and to help parents, caregivers, teachers, and healthcare providers navigate the complex conversations around how vaccines work.

Ella Maughan has a PhD in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis ("Bad Bugs") and more than 10 years of medical communications experience. By combining storytelling with a deeper scientific truth, she hopes to educate and motivate children to overcome vaccine fear, and to support teacher and caregiver conversations about vaccines. Originally from Surrey, England, Ella moved to New York in 2015. She lives on Long Island, NY, with her husband, two daughters who love to do "experiments," and their cat, Pickle. Visit her online at ellamaughan.com.

Martina Pepiciello has been passionate about drawing since she learned to hold a pencil and about science since she learned to write with that pencil; the latter interest drove her to earn a Master's Degree in Theoretical Physics at the University of Bologna, Italy. After finishing her studies, during which she never stopped drawing, she decided to merge her passions and become a scientific illustrator and graphic designer. Martina's goal is to clearly and colorfully depict scientific concepts that might sound intimidating so that they become more accessible. Lately, she has been focusing on comic-style children's book illustrations because she believes in the importance of sharing the love of science with young generations. She can be found online at www.martinapepiciello.com.