Small Friends is a collaboration between visual ecologist, Aviva Reed,  art-science collective Scale Free Network (Briony Barr & Dr. Gregory Crocetti) together with writer, Ailsa Wild, published by CSIRO Publishing.

The Small Friends book series tell stories about microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, viruses) and the intimate relationships they form with larger forms of life. Written for nature lovers of all ages, the books promote the idea that cooperation, not just competition is a dominant paradigm of nature. They portray microbes in a positive light, countering misguided hysteria around ‘germs’ and hygiene and acknowledge the fundamental role that these tiny organisms play within our ecosystem. Books can be purchased at CSIRO Publishing.

Projects thus far include: 

Zobi and the Zoox: a journey into the microscopic world at the heart of all coral reefs. Featuring a cast of molecules, microbes and mucus, the story explores the effects of a warming ocean on a tiny symbiotic community living in a coral polyp called Darian. Zobi and the Zoox is a great tool for explaining the science behind coral bleaching.

Coming up:

The Squid, the Vibrio & the Moon: a story inspired by the incredible relationship that exists between the Hawaiian Bobtail squid and the bioluminescent bacteria, Vibrio fischeri. 

Adventures in the soil: released 2019

Awards:
The Squid, the Vibrio & the Moon
- Winner of a Bronze medal in the Children’s eBook category in 2015 US Independent Publisher (IPPY) awards.
Zobi and the Zoox
- Winner of a Puggle (children’s choice award) 2015 Environmental Award for Children’s Literature.

- Shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year award.