Helpful Books About Germs and Washing Hands for Kids
Since germs are invisible, books about bacteria and viruses can help kids learn all about them! Books about germs also show kids the importance of washing hands at home and school. This topic is super important for teachers to discuss at school so that students can keep each other safe. It’s also helpful for families to read and discuss together at home. Thankfully, there are many great children’s books about germs!
Best books about germs for toddlers and little kids
These picture books introduce teeny-tiny germs with simple explanations and cute pictures.
What Are Germs? Lift-the-Flap Book for Kids
Where do germs live? How do germs spread? This Very First Questions and Answers book is a great starting point for toddlers and preschoolers.
Peek behind the flaps to discover answers to frequently asked questions about germs.
Reading age: 2 to 4 years
Germs Are Not for Sharing: Behavior Book for Kids
This book gives practical tips for young children to keep each other healthy. Each page has just a few lines of text with prompts, such as “Say, ‘Tissue, please!'” and reminders to “turn your head away” and “cough into your sleeve.”
With these specific examples, children can learn how their actions can help prevent germs from spreading.
Reading age: 2 to 4 years
Germs Make Me Sick! Let’s Read and Find Out Book
Looking for a helpful book for early elementary-age kids? This picture book introduces the basics of germs, including the differences between bacteria and viruses. Children can relate to the pictures of common situations with realistic, diverse illustrations.
Reading age: 4 to 8 years
See Inside the Microscopic World
Zoom into the world of tiny microbes through this fun book with over 100 interactive flaps. Get a close-up look at bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other microscopic germs that live inside and around us.
Reading age: 6 to 10 years
Best books about bacteria and viruses for kids
Wondering what the difference is between bacteria and viruses? How do antibiotics and vaccines help our immune system? In these children’s books, kids will learn all about these famous types of germs
Baby Medical School – Bacteria and Antibiotics Science Book for Kids
This little board book has just the right facts for young learners. It explains bacteria and antibiotics with easy-to-understand language. Colorful pastel cartoons simplify microbiology concepts.
Reading age: 2 to 5 years
What is a Virus? Lift-the-Flap Book for Kids
This board book with interactive flaps is helpful for toddlers and kindergarteners. It explains what a virus is and how it spreads. It also describes common viruses, such as chicken pox, Ebola, hepatitis, and COVID-19.
Bonus: This book introduces vaccines and other ways to fight viruses. Therefore, this book can be useful for elementary school kids to learn how to prevent sickness from germs.
Reading age: 4 to 8 years
The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes (The Science Book Series)
Get ready to learn more facts about germs! This fantastic science book has cool photographs of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes.
Plus, it delves into interesting details about microbiology in a clear and kid-friendly way. Here’s one fun fact about skin from the book: it contains lots of friendly bacteria!
Reading age: 4 to 8 years
The Secret Life of Viruses: Incredible Science Facts about Germs, Vaccines, and What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
This book about viruses is packed with serious scientific facts as well as silly illustrations, making all the important information fun and engaging. Learn about the history of different types of viruses, how they reproduce, how they spread, and how vaccines work to keep you safe.
Reading age: 4 to 8 years
Children’s books about washing hands and hygiene
Why should we bother washing our hands? Can sleep, healthy eating, and exercise help our bodies fight off infections? These books teach kids all about helpful hygiene habits.
Germs Versus Soap: A Silly Hygiene Book about Washing Hands!
People often say that “laughter is the best medicine”, and this picture book delivers laughs and helpful tips!
Through the silly story about germs fighting against soap, children can learn about hygiene and the importance of hand-washing.
Reading age: 3 to 6 years
The Ultimate Kids’ Guide to Being Super Healthy
Written by a physician, this helpful book teaches how to stay healthy and fight off germs with kid-friendly explanations.
Being healthy is more than just good hygiene. As the cover says, this book explains what you need to know about nutrition, exercise, sleep, hygiene, stress, screen time, and more!
Reading age: 6 to 10 years
Graphic novels about dangerous germs and plagues
These nonfiction graphic novels are filled with fascinating facts about plagues throughout world history as well as fun comic-style drawings.
Science Comics: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield
Get to know the nasty critters behind the worst plagues in human history through colorful and entertaining comics. This graphic novel teaches the science of infections, diseases, immunity, and the development of life-saving medical treatments.
Reading age: 6 to 10 years
History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics
This non-fiction graphic novel teaches science and history with fun comics! Discover fascinating facts and uncover common myths about deadly germs and famous world plagues, including the bubonic plague, cholera, smallpox, tuberculosis, polio, influenza, and COVID-19.
Reading age: 8 to 12 years
Basher Science: Microbiology
Dive into the small world of invisible microbes, where each germ comes to life as a main character in this book. Fun illustrations and engaging explanations help kids learn about the immune system and how infections, ranging from the common cold to deadly diseases, can infect the body.
Reading age: 10 to 14 years
Tips for reading books about germs with kids
