Children's Books About Germs and Hand Washing
* This image uses the old name of the ‘Is There a Book for That?’ blog/book list.
It's that time of year. Temps are getting cooler. Soon people will be spending more time indoors and illnesses will start spreading. It is important for kids to understand the importance of handwashing and stopping the spread of germs. Not only is it good for their own well-being, it protects those with more fragile immune systems. Some of these books are silly, some of them use clever story telling, some are simple and factual, and some are complex and get into the science of it all. Read below to find the books that will 'speak' to your children. Also don't forget to check out more books about germs, immune systems, and vaccines in previous blogs ( September 10, 2025 and January 22, 2025).
These books would be great in any pediatric clinic, school classroom, or oncology or contagious disease clinic. (I am adding links to all of the books to help you all easily find and purchase. I do receive a small commission, but it doesn't cost you any more and it doesn't take anything away from the author. It's just Amazon that makes a little less per purchase. :) I hope this justifies the amount of time I like to give to the HBL.)
Germs vs. Soap by Didi Dragon
This book is a silly book that reinforces hand washing. The book talks about the little germs and how they travel into the body. The germs all talk to each other, speaking about how they love to be on hands because then they often make it in the body. They also speak about soap and how much they hate soap. While there are little bits of fact, a majority of the book is silliness to grab the attention of kids, but despite the silliness, the message is clear - washing your hands stops germs. This could be a great classroom book or book to read at home as you enter winter and the spread of so many illnesses. Good for young children through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/3Xsmwog
Be A Good Dragon by Kurt Cyrus
This book is a story about a dragon who is sick. When he sneezes it spreads everywhere. He is very tired of feeling sick and goes into town to get help. He is told that the best thing he can do is rest. Then a wizard makes him a potion that helps him take a nap. This helps a lot and once he is calm and rested, he is better at making good choices and not spreading his sneezes. This is a cute story that will catch kids attention while also reinforcing getting rest and covering your cough/sneeze, some important concepts to keep everyone healthy. Good for preschool through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/3JWael0
Pig in Jeans Fights Germs by Brenda Li
This is another story that helps understand the importance of hand washing. The pig comes home and eats a pie without washing his hands. Then he gets his sister sick by sneezing on her. Then he gets his dad sick by sneezing on his phone. A child can easily connect the dots. Then the pig learns how to wash his hands well and the next time he makes a better choice after school - although he still leaves the bathroom a mess. This story would be good for young children through young elementary.
https://amzn.to/4hWWEKN
The Snot Book by Mark Bacera
This book starts off very silly. The reader is instructed to wipe away the different things that come out of the character's nose. They all start with the SN sound, but when at last the snot comes out, the book then educates the reader about all things snot including what snot is, how to handle it, what different colors of snot mean, etc. This book will cath some kids attention and can be great when discussing how to handle a runny nose. Good for preschool through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/3LKnABn
Sick Simon by Dan Krall
This book is about Simon who goes to school when he is sick. While the people all around him try to keep their distance, Simon doesn’t understand that anything is wrong. He continues to come to school, but eventually all of his peers are sick too and they don’t get to have their end of the week kickball game. The germs tell him that he’s done a great job helping him. Horrified, Simon makes some changes. He stays home all weekend, gets rest, and washes his hands. Soon he is better and his friends want to be around him again. This is a great book for classrooms who want to talk about when to stay home or how to keep everyone healthy. It could be a way to talk to young kids about how germs travel and remind them how they can keep their friends healthy. Good for young children through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/487hFz3
Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick
This is a fairly simple book that reinforces the importance of hand washing and covering your cough or sneeze. The book talks about what germs are and states that they can make you sick- which is why they are not for sharing. The book gives examples of when to wash your hands. In general the book doesn’t have a lot of extra fluff, making it clear and easy to understand. This book would be good for a classroom or a child working on these important skills. Good for young children through early elementary.
https://amzn.to/4rbEcCu
See Inside Germs by Sarah Hull
This is an Usborne lift the flap book that gives the reader a ton of information about germs. It covers bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. There are tons of science and history based facts. Great for inquisitive kids. The last few pages talk about how germs spread, how to slow the spread and how to treat illnesses. This is a great book for kids who want to know more. Great for middle elementary through middle school.
https://amzn.to/4oDSCJW
These books have been added to the Pediatric Clinic portion of the Hospital Book List.
