Book Review - It's Catching: The infectious world of germs and microbes.

OK, I admit it, I'm 60 years old. I've been a clinical laboratorian and a schoolteacher all of my life. I worked in a bacteriology lab as well as many of the other labs in hospitals and for The Office of Laboratory Services for the State of Florida. This book is so well written, designed, and laid out; I think middle school and high school students would love it. College students, you could also use this book for not only a broad-spectrum (ha ha) of human pathogens, but for all the fun little trivial facts that make this so interesting. As a former gifted teacher, I know precocious fourth and fifth graders would love all the fascinating little factoids. The contents are set up so that you can read about the pathogen you're interested in, but I found myself reading it page by page, cover to cover, over two weeks, just soaking it all in and enjoying it. It's a great introduction to public health and some of the challenges we face as a planet. It's a great book to have around. I will probably buy a copy for my granddaughter who is nine and reads on a middle school level. If you have a little scientific researcher in your family, I would highly recommend purchasing this book, because your child will go back to the book time and time again through middle and high school. I can imagine the sides of  Dr. Gardy's notebooks teaming with adorable little personified germs with a plan to share all of this cool stuff with kids, young and old, someday. It is illustrated by Josh Holinaty, and the layout in the book is so attractive. It really IS catching!