This is a story about tiny creatures that live in the darkness of the soil.
When a tree cries out in pain, some unexpected heroes come to the rescue. Nema and her gang of young nematodes (tiny worms) embark on a dangerous journey underground. The Xenos, a group of wise but deadly bacteria, hitch a ride. The story of how they help the tree is full of action, life-or-death challenges and microscopic warfare. It is a story of cooperation and ancient partnership, about events happening all over the Earth, in the hidden worlds beneath our feet.
Features:
- A beautifully illustrated science-adventure story, created in collaboration with scientists
- Engages children in the invisible world of microbes
- "The Science Behind the Story" section allows for deeper exploration of the scientific concepts underpinning the story
- Teacher Notes available to support the use of this book in the classroom
- The Small Friends Books series combines cutting-edge scientific research, rich narrative and beautiful illustrations to tell stories that describe symbiotic partnerships between microbes and larger life forms.
Ailsa Wild creates stories for theater and paper pages. She loves collaborating with acrobats, scientists and children and her favorite question is ... But why?
Aviva Reed is a multi-disciplinary visual ecologist who creates immersive experiences to explore complex science.
Briony Barr is a conceptual artist, designer and interdisciplinary thinker, who is fascinated in the relationships between large and small.
Gregory Crocetti combines his microbial ecology experience with science education skills in an attempt to teach the world that microbes are marvelous.
Patricia Stock is a Professor at the University of Arizona. Her expertise is in insect pathology, with a focus on parasitic nematodes. Her work centers on the diversity, evolutionary relationships and symbioses these parasites have with their eukaryotic hosts and bacterial symbiotic partners.