The Germ Lab features case histories of specific epidemics and pandemics, including Covid-19, "eyewitness" accounts from the rats, flies, ticks and creepy-crawlies who spread the most deadly viruses, plus plenty of fascinating facts and figures on the biggest and worst afflictions. Discover how bacteria and bad beasties are beaten through the work of genius scientists and the development of vaccinations. Written by Richard Platt and illustrated by John Kelly, the brilliantly humorous artworks and fun characters will entertain young readers with a cabinet war room showing the war on germs, a rogues' gallery highlighting the worst offenders, the very deadliest diseases examined under the microscope, and much more.

Richard Platt has been writing for children since 1992. One of his books, Castle Diary, was shortlisted for the Kate Maschler Award, The Times Education Supplement award, and a History Today prize. His Pirate Diary won the Kate Greenaway Medal 2002, the Silver Smarties Award 2002, and won the ‘Best Book With Facts' prize in the UK's Blue Peter Book Awards 2003.

John Kelly has been an illustrator for more than 20 years, working for Macmillan, DK, Egmont and Scholastic, among others. He has won numerous awards and his picture book Guess Who's Coming for Dinner?, created with his wife, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award.