This is a well written and very accessible biography of Antony van Leeuwenhoek, the “grandfather of microbiology.” An uneducated man with a strong curiosity of the world around him, van Leeuwenhoek crafted the most sophisticated microscopes of his time. He was the first to observe many things in the microscopic world, including the presence of life in water. This book does a good job of providing important information without overloading the reader. The illustrations are colorful, provide additional context, and help break things up and make this book more accessible to younger readers. There are also actual photos of microscopic organisms, though it would have been better to have only photos of microbes rather than artist renderings. Interspersed throughout the text about van Leeuwenhoek’s life are pages with relevant historical information about things such as disease, the role of women in daily life, etc. Overall, this biography is very well done and written appropriately for the audience. Hand this book to curious kids and budding scientists, 3rd grade and up. They won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME