Uses humor in both text and illustrations to describe how antibiotics were developed and what methods were used to fight infections and disease before antibiotics were available.

Uses humor in both text and illustrations to describe what it would be like to live without the electric power that makes modern life possible.

Though most of them are too small to be seen with the naked eye, bacteria are everywhere. They appeared on Earth more than 3 billion years before the first dinosaurs. Some bacteria cause deadly diseases, but many of them are helpful to us. They fertilize the soil by breaking down dead material, and they are an essential ingredient in many foods. Bacteria in our own bodies are a vital part of the digestive process.--from page 2 of cover.

Shows how many insects are beneficial to humans.

"Describes what life would be like without bees."-- "What would happen if there were no bees in this world? It would be a disaster! Without bees, we would, of course, have no honey. But we'd also lose a lot of other foods and useful products. Read about how bees pollinate plants to help produce many of the materials we regularly use and buy, and learn more about their vital role in the animal food chain,"--back cover.

"Trees are among nature's most remarkable achievements, growing from a seed you can hold in your hand into a green giant several stories high. Read all about their unbelievably long life spans and how they can live in the most extreme conditions, from baking deserts to icy wastelands. You'll also find out how they provide us with fuel, food shelter -- and even the oxygen that we breathe!,"--back cover.