Children often enjoy stories that turn everyday ideas into imaginative adventures. Germs by Grant Kurzman does exactly that. This lively children’s book transforms the microscopic world into a colorful journey filled with humor, curiosity, and friendship.
Through the adventures of four determined germs, the story invites young readers to explore a playful mystery while learning about teamwork and resilience.
A Quest to Discover the Mysterious One Percent
At the heart of Germs lies a simple but engaging question. Is there really a “one percent” of germs that cannot be wiped away?
The story begins when four adventurous germs named Sally, Biff, Col, and Steph find themselves fleeing from giant drops of cleaning spray. Instead of giving up, the friends decide to search for the legendary group of germs that supposedly survive even the strongest cleaning attempts.
Their mission quickly becomes an exciting quest. The tiny travelers move through different environments while dodging sprays, scrubs, and towering toothbrushes that threaten to wipe them out at any moment.
As they explore the world around them, the group encounters a range of unusual characters. There is mould growing on a forgotten slice of bread. There are bacteria hitching a ride on a buzzing fly. There is even a stubborn plaque germ hiding deep inside a mouth.
Each encounter adds humor and discovery to their journey. The four friends begin to realize that the world of germs is far more diverse than they first imagined.
Yet one question keeps returning. Does the mysterious one percent truly exist?
Friendship, Bravery, and Curiosity in Every Step
While the adventure provides plenty of excitement, the heart of the story lies in the friendship between the four main characters.
Sally, Biff, Col, and Steph each bring their own personality to the journey. Together they form a small team that faces every challenge side by side. Whenever danger appears, their determination to stay together helps them push forward.
Young readers often connect easily with stories about friendship. In Germs, the theme appears naturally through the group’s shared experiences. The characters support one another while navigating unfamiliar places and escaping the many cleaning tools that seem determined to chase them away.
Curiosity also plays an important role throughout the story. The germs keep asking questions about the world around them. Every new encounter sparks another moment of discovery.
That sense of wonder encourages children to think about how the world works. Even a topic like germs, which might usually sound scientific or serious, becomes playful and exciting through the book’s imaginative storytelling.
The adventure shows that bravery often begins with curiosity. The characters stay determined because they want to understand the mystery they are chasing.
A Story Designed to Be Read Again and Again
Many children return to their favorite books repeatedly. Grant Kurzman designed Germs with this exact experience in mind.
The story includes a clever interactive element that invites readers to search for a hidden character. At the end of the book, young readers are asked whether they spotted Oonah, a tiny one percent germ hidden somewhere in the story.
This playful challenge encourages children to flip back through the pages and search carefully through the illustrations. Each rereading becomes a small treasure hunt.
That feature adds another layer of excitement to the book. Instead of finishing the story once and moving on, children feel encouraged to return and explore the pages again.
Stories that invite interaction often leave a lasting impression on young readers. They turn reading into an activity that feels like discovery rather than a simple beginning-to-end experience.
The Creative Mind Behind the Story
Grant Kurzman brings a diverse creative background to his work as a children’s author. Based in Geelong, Australia, he spent many years working in film and television as an editor and producer.
His career also included running a wedding filming business for over a decade, along with creating content for the Geelong Cats Football Club. These experiences helped shape his storytelling skills and visual imagination.
Much of his inspiration for children’s books comes from his own family. Bedtime storytelling sessions with his daughters often involved spontaneous challenges. They would suggest a location or an animal, then ask him to invent an adventure on the spot.
Those imaginative moments eventually grew into published stories such as Imogen and the Butterflies, Farmer Oliver’s New Friends, and now Germs.
Grant’s writing style blends humor, warmth, and gentle life lessons. His stories often highlight kindness, cooperation, and helping others while keeping the tone light and engaging for young readers.
A Bright and Imaginative Children’s Adventure
Germs by Grant Kurzman offers a creative way to turn a familiar topic into an exciting story. With colorful characters, playful encounters, and a mystery that keeps readers guessing, the book creates an adventure that children can easily enjoy.
The story celebrates curiosity and friendship while encouraging young readers to explore the pages more than once.
Through its imaginative world and interactive twist, Germs invites children to look a little closer and discover what they might have missed the first time.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
I’m Grant Kurzman from Geelong, Australia. I am a content producer and a children’s book author. GERMS is the third book I have published. My background has been in film and television, and I ran a wedding filming business for over a decade. I love being creative, and my wild imagination is always thinking of something to do.
Please tell us about your story.
My two daughters, Imogen and Aisha, loved me reading stories to them, but they loved it when I could just make one up on the spot. Sometimes they would tell me an animal and a place, and I would make it up off the cuff. That’s where Imogen and the Butterflies started from. One of those stories.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I really think children enjoy a book they can re-read. It has to have appeal. GERMS has a hook at the end where you are asked if you found Oonah, who’s a one percent germ. So to go back and find her is such a thrill for kids.
Any message for our readers
Enjoy the book, and be sure to look for my other titles too.
Thank you so much, Grant, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!