This is Pip, a teeny-tiny pathogen. You can’t see Pip with your eyes only with a microscope! Pip loves to explore new places… even places he shouldn’t go.

A Tiny Hitchhiker

Pip grabbed a cell, copying himself. One Pip became many, filling the cozy room. Maya grew sniffly and tired, her head warm. “Something’s not right,” she whispered. Pip giggled, “Adventure success!”

Too Many Pips

Inside, Maya’s helpers got the message: intruder! White blood cells zoomed like superheroes. They chased Pip and his copies through twisty passages. Antibodies tagged him with tiny flags, “This one!”

Superhero Helpers

Maya’s fever faded as the last Pips disappeared. She smiled and sipped water. Pip sighed, “Maybe humans don’t need my adventures.” Maya washed her hands; Pip swirled away, calling, “Doorknob time!”

Clean Hands, New Plans

A 7 year old afro-american girl with silver earrings

A 7 year old afro-american woman with medium-length black hair and silver earrings

Maya

This is Pip, a teeny-tiny pathogen.
You can’t see Pip with your eyes only with a microscope!
Pip loves to explore new places… even places he shouldn’t go.

One day, Pip lands on a little girl named Maya’s hand.
He sticks to her skin, waiting for a chance to go on an adventure.
Maya rubs her eye and Pip jumps in!

“Wow!” Pip says. “It’s warm and cozy in here!”
Pip slides down into Maya’s nose and throat.
He finds soft, comfy cells and thinks, “Perfect! I’ll make this my new home.”

Pip grabs onto a cell and sneaks inside.
He uses the cell like a little factory.
“Time to make more Pips!”
Soon one Pip becomes two… then twenty… then hundreds!

All those Pips cause trouble.
Maya starts to feel tired and sniffly.
Her head feels warm; she has a fever!
“Something’s not right,” she says.

Inside Maya’s body, tiny soldiers get the message:
“Intruder alert! Send the immune system!”
White blood cells zoom in like superheroes.

The white blood cells chase Pip and his many clones.
“Catch them!”
They grab the Pips, gobble them up, and block others from sneaking into cells.

Pip zips around trying to hide.
But the body is too smart!
Antibodies stick to Pip like little flags saying,
“This one’s a bad guy!”

The immune cells work together until
All the Pips are gone!
Maya’s fever fades, and she feels better again.
Her body remembers Pip in case he ever returns.

Pip sighs.
“It was fun while it lasted… but maybe humans don’t need my adventures.”
Maya washes her hands with warm, soapy water.
Pip swirls away and says,
“Maybe I’ll try a doorknob instead!”

