Vaccines Change the World

by Gillian King-Cargile, Sandie Sonke (Illustrator)

Overview

2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist - Juvenile Nonfiction

With its colorful text and illustrations, this book explains the world's pandemics and the people who helped save us from them with vaccines.

Unlike other science books for middle grade readers, this definitive guide to vaccines is told in an approachable, compelling narrative style. Fascinating stories, combined with fresh design elements, will help kids make connections to current events and get them thinking about where human ingenuity will take us next.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807584811
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/27/2022
Series:	ABDO Science in Action Series
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gillian King-Cargile earned her BA in film production and an MFA in creative writing from Southern Illinois University. She has worked with schools, libraries, universities, and national labs to create exciting stories, games, events, and even stand-up comedy routines that spark a love of reading and learning. A member of the the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Horror Writers Association, Gillian has published picture books, middle-grade nonfiction books, and other works for readers of all ages. In everything she does, Gillian seeks to use humor and creativity to kindle a love of reading and learning.

Sandie Sonke is an illustrator with many published picture books, including the Language Is Fun series. She is a Southern California native and a Cal State University Fullerton grad with a degree in studio art. She currently lives in her hometown Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Editorial Reviews

2022-07-27
From variolation to today’s mRNA vaccines, the story of one of modern medicine’s great triumphs over viral diseases.

King-Cargile begins and ends with smallpox as a case study in how to eradicate a viral scourge and in between retraces a triumphal march of medical research that—notwithstanding choruses of skeptics from the 18th century on—resulted in millions of lives being saved. In clear, simple language, King-Cargile describes many types of vaccines and how they work, but her focus is on the human and historical sides of their stories (Maurice Hilleman’s development of vaccines for measles and other maladies, the rivalry between Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin)—until the end, at least, where she covers the rise of Covid-19. Here, she suddenly stops naming names and offers more generalized accounts of the Pfizer and other vaccines and the CRISPR techniques that made their quick production possible. In keeping with the positive tone of her message, she acknowledges but downplays the ominous way many viruses continually adapt to antiviral measures and, by cutting off her narrative at the end of 2020, leaves readers to look elsewhere for information about Covid variants, more recent vaccines, and ongoing anti-vax arguments and disruptions. Still, if her account is more Eurocentric than Don Brown’s A Shot in the Arm! (2021), it does offer both strong encouragement to “use your shot” and warm tributes to the dedication of researchers from Edward Jenner on. Sonke’s cartoon illustrations are more decorative than informative; group scenes include some racial diversity.

Solid background on what has become, for better or worse, a hot topic. (glossary, recommended reading) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

Kirkus Reviews

2022 Foreword INDIES Bronze Winner - Juvenile Nonfiction

"Solid background on what has become, for better or worse, a hot topic."—Kirkus Reviews

"King-Cargile's engaging prose and solid, up-to-date information make this a worthy purchase for most school and public libraries."—Booklist

From the Publisher