Germ Hunter: A Story about Louis Pasteur (Creative Minds Biography) [Paperback]

Elaine Marie Alphin (Author), Elaine Verstraete (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Creative Minds Biography

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Growing up in the 1830s, Louis Pasteur saw the horrifying effects of diseases like rabies and tuberculosis. He spent his lifetime searching for answers to his many questions and saved millions of lives with his discoveries.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 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, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876149298
• ISBN-13: 978-0876149294
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Chemistry

More About the Author

Elaine Marie Alphin knew she was going to be a writer before she could even read or write. On early morning walks with her father in San Francisco, she listened to the stories he told, and made up stories to tell him, and she realized then that she wanted to spend her life making up stories. Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Mystery (Counterfeit Son), the ForeWard Book of the Year Award for Young Adult Fiction (The Perfect Shot), the Society of Midland Authors Children's Fiction Award and Young Hoosier Book Award (Ghost Soldier, also an Edgar Award nominee), the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (Dinosaur Hunter), two Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators Magazine Merit Awards, and the Virginia State Reading Association Award (The Ghost Cadet), Mrs. Alphin has made writing for children and young adults, and speaking to them at schools and conferences, her dream career. Although she started out as a journalist in Houston, a tip from her husband, Art, drew her to writing for children. Her fiction and nonfiction books for youngsters from beginning readers through teenagers have been selected for Bank Street College lists, TAYSHAS lists, VOYA Top Shelf lists, and 20 Children's Choice state award lists. Although adults occasionally ask when she's going to grow up enough to write for them, Elaine Marie Alphin explains why she loves writing for young readers instead: "I always wanted my writing to challenge readers to question their assumptions, and I discovered that a lot of grown-ups don't really want to question their assumptions. They've made choices and compromises in their lives, and they want to feel comfortable about them. But young readers are still finding out who they are, like I am, I guess. They're the perfect audience for me because they want to consider new ideas in order to decide for themselves which ideas they agree with and which they don't, and work out how they want to live their lives." Elaine Marie Alphin has written one book for adults: Creating Characters Kids Will Love. It's about writing for young readers. Get to know Elaine Marie Alphin better at her website: www.elainemariealphin.com. The Alphins live in Bozeman, Montana, and spend time in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Germ Hunter, April 28, 2011

By 

Rudy Sutherland (Houston, Tx. USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Germ Hunter: A Story about Louis Pasteur (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

I am very pleased with this book and the timely fashion that I received it. It was just what I expected I have no problems with it. I already knew what I wanted.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, February 10, 2008

By 

flo (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Germ Hunter: A Story about Louis Pasteur (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

Very informative although quite condensed, but very inspirational. My 8 years old wrote his book report about a famous person that changed humanity from this book. He loved it and wouldn't stop asking for questions afterwards. Made him very curious.