Germ Hunter: A Story About Louis Pasteur

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This novel-like biography recounts Pasteur's life from his childhood as a tanner's son, through his stormy schooling and early work with chemistry, to his monumental discovery that germs are the cause of many kinds of illnesses. Although Alphin explains the science in easily understood terms, the book is more about the man than his work. However, the author considers how Pasteur might have felt about his scientific struggles and his family tragedies without carefully documenting the sources. This makes the material more readable, but not useful for reports. A short glossary, a perfunctory bibliography, and an adequate index are appended. Verstraete's black-and-white paintings are merely decorative. Beverley Birch's Louis Pasteur: Father of Modern Medicine (Blackbirch, 2001) has informative color illustrations and focuses more on Pasteur's discoveries than his life. It is a better choice for motivated students who are not intimidated by some scientific vocabulary. Because Alphin's book looks and reads like a story, it is less intimidating and is a good choice for reluctant readers.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.