Meena and the Microbiome

November 15, 2024
A child learns about the roles microbes play everywhere, from garden soil to guts. Sometimes it's good to have a scientist in the family. Young Meena's mother--serving as a mouthpiece for the author, a physician/scientist studying the effects of fecal transplants--gives her (and readers) an earful about microscopic organisms as the two enjoy a day working in a garden. Mom explains that microbes produce that pleasant earthy smell after a rain, break down organic waste to compost, and can make a wet dog smell funky. These "hidden helpers" are found everywhere on Earth and live in large micro-communities, where they share nutrients and chemical signals. But where can you find the largest concentration of microbes? "Inside your belly!" Mom informs Meena. "We are as much microbe as we are human." They influence our growth and even moods, she goes on, and though most are "our friends," some can make us sick, so it's important to wash up regularly. The author delivers all of this in a reassuring tone underscored by Mart�nez's cozy scenes of a brown-skinned parent and child rooting around in garden beds, alternating with images of fancifully suburban microbial neighborhoods complete with cars, buildings, and smiling blobby residents. Informative and aglow with positive messaging. (author's note, websites)(Informational picture book. 6-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2025
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* The rain has just stopped, and Meena and her mother venture out into the backyard. Mom says she loves the smell of the air, so Meena takes a sniff but is puzzled: What would you call this delicious mixture of scents? This prompts a discussion of ""earthy"" and everything that's down there in the dirt, including microbes. Mom explains the interdependence of earthworms, bugs, and microbes and follows up with an accessible conversation on the helpful roles microbes play in various situations: Microbes clean up the environment through composting. They help human bodies break down nutrients that provide energy. They create flavors and smells. They may be tiny, but they're powerful. Further conversation covers their pervasiveness (essentially, they're everywhere), their weird shapes, their long, funny names, and how millions of them live together in microbiomes, where they work together to perform a litany of other tasks, including carrying germs, which prompts a culminating bubble bath for Meena. Charming illustrations support the effortlessly accessible text, and although there's a lot of information, it's presented in an engaging manner. A worthwhile addition for STEM collections, this cheerful and reassuring offering has multiple curricular applications and makes a great read-aloud.

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