There’s a lot we don’t know about COVID-19, but looking at the way viruses work and studying past large-scale disease outbreaks can help us understand more about our current situation.These nonfiction books are available for free check-out with your Wilmette Public Library card through our digital services Hoopla and/or Digital Library of Illinois (accessible on mobile devices with Libby, by OverDrive).
Hoopla E-Book
Libby/OverDrive E-Book
Libby/OverDrive E-Audiobook
It's 1793, and there's an invisible killer roaming the streets of Philadelphia. This killer has a name—yellow fever—but everything else about it is a mystery. Its cause is unknown and there is no cure. Traces the devastating course of the epidemic and offers a glimpse into the conditions in American cities at the time of our nation's birth while drawing parallels to modern-day epidemics. Suggested for grades 5 and up.
Hoopla E-Book
Libby/OverDrive E-Book
Explores epidemic and pandemic threats and approaches to disease detection, prevention, and surveillance, relating them to concepts that lie at the foundation of STEM education. It also describes the steps readers can take to prepare for disease outbreaks. Suggested for grades 5–8.
Hoopla E-Book
Libby/OverDrive E-Book
What is the difference between epidemics and pandemics? Learn the difference and more in this biology book for kids. Suggested for grades 3–5.
Explore the tragedies and triumphs of this disaster, how it helped shape the world as we know it, and how what we've learned from it has made the world a safer place. Suggested for grades 5–8.
Viruses and bacteria can mutate and move easily from one person to the next. Vaccines and other forms of prevention help fight these vicious pests, but pandemics have hit the world and killed millions. A global pandemic is explored, from how it could start to how we might fight the spread. Suggested for grades 3–5.
The influenza epidemic in 1918 killed more people than World War I. Read this book to learn more about the history of this infectious disease. Includes read-aloud audio. Suggested for grades 3–5.
Discusses the science behind pandemics and their effects and examines the deadliest pandemics in history, explaining how these diseases spread so quickly, and showing how scientists are working to prevent and contain future disease outbreaks. Suggested for grades 4–7.
Young virologists will picture themselves as the hero of their own story. They'll learn how viruses spread, how to avoid contamination, and the best way to battle and perhaps conquer an invisible killer. Suggested for grades 3–6.
Hoopla E-Book
Libby/OverDrive E-Book
Readers are tasked with following clues and using the scientific method to find out what happens during the spread of an epidemic. Suggested for grades 4–6.
Join Max Axiom as he explores the science behind viruses: how viruses attack our bodies and what we can do to protect against them. This graphic novel features videos, writing prompts, discussion questions, and a hands-on activity. Suggested for grades 3–5.
Use Children's Literature Comprehensive Database and NoveList K–8 to explore book reviews, reading lists, discussion guides, and more. Log in with your Wilmette Library card.