GRL: P

Includes bibliographical references (p. 31) and index.

A place to live -- Living under ground -- Decomposition -- Mushroom madness -- Billions of bacteria -- Plant partners -- Tiny animals -- Earth eaters -- Threads of life -- Jointed legs -- Waste-providers -- Seeds and pollen -- People & micro life.

Young readers will be astounded by the dynamic life in soil. This book describes why these often unseen organisms live in earth, what their ecological roles are, and how some must make adaptations to live there. Children will learn the value of even the smallest bacteria, understand the critical role that each organism plays, and be amazed by the impact that soil degradation has on an entire ecosystem.