Can a clever young girl named Sara find the cause of a mysterious illness striking many of her classmates? Through this delightful, educational story of one curious girl's search for the mysterious cause of a poisoning in her school, children and adults alike can discover the fascinating world of microbes, and how these perplexing invisible things can affect us all. With an easy-to-read text by scientist Sara Andersson and charming illustrations by Susan Litsios, this suspenseful story of science and food safety offers an in-depth look through the microscope, which makes the basics of microbiology and food safety accessible to anyone. The book is written primarily for children age seven to twelve; however, its message is for people of all ages. Invisible Things shares the story of Sara, a young girl who is home from school, recovering from the flu. When she discovers that many of her classmates have suddenly fallen sick-apparently from something they ate - she is drawn into figuring out what has caused the illness. With the help of her cat Rostam, Sara puts on her detective hat and is soon immersed in the invisible world of microbes, quickly determining the danger they can pose to health. She soon tracks down the source of the microbial agent that has sickened her friends, and through the investigation she learns about the various microbial agents and the source of contamination of foods. Along with Sara, readers will learn the often simple, but always important, measures that are needed to protect themselves from foodborne illnesses, from washing cooking equipment to refrigerating meat. Invisible Things is a translation from the original French version entitled Les Invisibles (which can be ordered via www.elstir-editions.ch). A step-by-step fictional tale, the book introduces readers to the complex and powerful role that microbes play in our lives, exploring their behavior, as well as their likes and dislikes. Rather than teaching the do's and the don'ts in food safety, Invisible Things provides readers with the essential science that underpins this important topic, so that they adopt the most beneficial behavior and practices. In addition, parents are encouraged to "test drive" the book and write comments on Facebook. While primarily intended for children between the ages of seven and twelve-years-old, the message of the book is valuable to readers of all ages, and would be ideal as as teaching material for primary school teachers, medical professionals, or health education experts. Engaging, enlightening, and page-turning, this indispensable primer on food safety offers the tools and know-how to practice effective food safety for a lifetime. "It is very important to give children correct messages about food hygiene. This excellent little book, by an acknowledged expert in the field, is a valuable contribution to this task." - Martin Adams, Emeritus Professor of Food Microbiology and President of the Society for Applied Microbiology
About the Author: Sara Andersson (pen-name for Yasmine Motarjemi) is a scientist with a doctoral degree in food engineering from the University of Lund, Sweden. As senior scientist in the World Health Organization, she was responsible for the surveillance and prevention of foodborne illnesses. Susan Litsios writes and illustrates books for children, but is most known as a printmaker, working on wood and copper. Her prints have been shown in solo shows as well as in many international print competitions. She is a graduate of Cooper Union in New York City. Rostam the cat was born in 2002 in France and lives in Geneva, Switzerland. He is a Maine Coon cat.