Description: "Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about the creepy crawlies hidden in your home, your food, your pets--and maybe even you!"--Jacket.
Review Quotes:
"Humorous and cleverly titled chapters--such as "A Plague on Both Your Houses," in which the author describes the Yersinia pestis that caused the bubonic plague--paired with animated illustrations by Mottram make sometimes gruesome tales about the history of parasites feel like a leisurely jaunt à la Ms. Frizzle. . .This enjoyable read will have readers exclaiming "cool!" instead of "ew!""--Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"An eye-opening, as well as stomach-churning, angle on who's really the boss in the natural world."--Kirkus, starred review"Each chapter is a generous mix of eews and aahs, whether inspecting a tiny cousin of the jellyfish that damages the spines of trout, the parasitoid wasp revered by farmers because its babies turn plant-eating aphids into "mummies," or the Nipah virus, which humans can acquire by accidentally drinking bat pee (don't worry, this is rare!). Woven throughout the creepiness, however, is science related to parasitic behavior and ecosystems, including their complex life cycles; how they reduce the number of unwanted (by human standards, anyway) hosts, like insects and rats; and ways parasites might help humans fight autoimmune diseases. Black-and-white cartoon spot art highlights some of these unusual parasite-host relationships. Utilizing pop-culture references and personal anecdotes, Wood delightfully demystifies these often-dreaded creatures." --Booklist, starred review "The technical information on parasites presented in this book is accessible through the use of humor and illustrations, making it a solid choice for libraries serving middle grade students"--School Library Journal, starred review