10 Books to Inspire Good Handwashing & Healthy Hygiene Habits

Encourage young children to develop good handwashing and general hygiene practices with these fun picture books about germs and healthy hygiene.

It’s important to expose children to healthy hygiene practices early so they become a habit that they use in daily life without even thinking about it. This is especially true for handwashing!

While some of these books are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, others will suit those in kindergarten and the early years of grade school.

Of course I would encourage you to follow up your read aloud time practising good handwashing with our free handwashing poster for kids! After all, practice make progress!

10 Picture Books About Germs & Good Hygiene

For more information about each of the titles listed below each is linked to our favourite online bookstore pages where you can find reviews and age recommendations for titles you are unfamiliar with (these are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases).

Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick: Teaches children necessary skills for avoiding germs and staying healthy with clear, simple instructions suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

What Are Germs? by Katie Daynes: What are germs and how do they spread? With 30 flaps to lift, this fascinating introduction to germs and hygiene includes tips on hand-washing and staying healthy. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

A Germ’s Journey by Katie Laird: A great first book about germs with heat sensitive sections showing the ‘hiding germs.’ Simply explains how germs spread and that they make you sick with handwashing tips. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Wash Your Hands by Margaret McNamara: A short, sweet book about washing your hands well that includes a fun handwashing song. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

I Don’t Want to Wash My Hands by Tony Ross: Fans of The Little Princess series will love learning all about the importance of handwashing with Little Princess. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Cutie Sue Fights the Germs by Kate Melton: A simple story for preschoolers about two kids who catch a cold and the things their doctor tells them they can do to prevent them from getting sick again. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Teach Your Dragon Good Hygiene by Steve Herman: A fun and engaging rhyming tale about a boy and his dragon – a dragon with very bad personal hygiene! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

A Germ’s Journey by Thom Rooke MD: When Rudy sneezes, his germs travel to his friends, who pass them on to people on the bus and at home, ballet practice and the movies. While it does not focus a lot on how to prevent germs from spreading, it does describe how easily they spread and how quickly they travel. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Do Not Lick This Book (It’s Full of Germs) by Idan Ben-Barak: A fantastic introduction to the world of microbiology, full of creative, funny and gross things for children to learn! Includes messages about how germs spread, the importance of cleaning teeth, clothes and your body, as well as washing hands after touching things. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Bacteria Book by Steve Mould: Meet the bacteria, viruses, and other germs and microbes that are all around, but too small for us to see! A fun introduction to the world of tiny science. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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