Follow Your Gut: a story from the microbes that make you

Meet the ecosystem inside you ... A timid Bifidobacterium named Biffy is forced to leave their family and become part of a new community, in the gut of a newborn human baby. Follow Your Gut is a comic that ate a biology textbook. It's an epic adventure set over the first three years of a new life, exploring one of the most important relationships you will ever have - the one with your gut microbiome. Created by artists, scientists, and educators, this story is for anyone who's curious about the human-microbe symbiosis, and what all those trillions of bacteria are doing down there in your intestines! Inspired by the latest research, Follow Your Gut includes a fascinating and detailed appendix that explains the amazing science behind the story. 'We fell in love with Biffy, the adorable Bifidobacterium. We also learnt about the scientific process of growing up, and the not-so-secret universe that we have inside us!' - Kira and Catherine, Year 7, University High School, Melbourne 'A wildly entertaining science lesson that will change how you see your own body.' - Dr Nat Bannan, high school science teacher 'What a fun, educational, and very accessible adventure.' -Sandor Ellis Katz, author of The Art of Fermentation 'Follow Your Gut is a standout example of modern nonfiction, especially in the Australian context, seamlessly blending comic book-style illustrations with current scientific knowledge. The story ... is both interactive and engaging, with elements of character development that draw readers into the world of gut bacteria. Suitable for a broad audience, from young readers to adults, the book combines detailed information with humour, supported by illustrations that reinforce the content ... making complex topics more accessible ... The collaboration between artists, comic book creators, and microbial scientists results in a visually stunning and informative book that effectively engages the reader without sacrificing accuracy ... This book serves as both an educational tool and an entertaining read, making complex scientific ideas accessible and engaging for readers of all ages, particularly preteens and those new to the subject.' -Judges' comments from the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards 'The interaction between the immune system and the microbiome - both of these topics are so complicated that they make my head spin, but in Follow Your Gut you are led through this complex topic, meeting one player in the system at a time. The authors have done an amazing job of using character and narrative to draw you in, but they haven't compromised on the science. Where else could you find an inspirational bacterium quoting a 13th-century Persian poet?' -Lindell Bromham, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Australian National University

Ailsa Wild (Author) Ailsa Wild is an author and performer with a history of circus performance and deep collaboration. She has written two junior fiction series, the Squishy Taylor books and the Naughtiest Pixie books, and is the lead writer for Scale Free Network, where she works with scientists to translate complex science into compelling illustrated narratives. Ailsa has two nonfiction books for adults, You'll Be a Wonderful Dad- advice on becoming the best father you can be and The Care Factor- a story of nursing and connection in the time of social distancing. She has been published in Spain, Brazil, the US, the UK, Egypt, South Korea, Israel, and China. Dr Lisa Stinson (Author) Dr Lisa Stinson is a perinatal microbial ecologist at the University of Western Australia. Her research interests include the infant and human milk microbiomes and the developmental origins of health and disease. In 2020, she was selected as one of the ABC's Top 5 Scientists. Lisa is currently a Research Fellow in the Australian Breastfeeding and Lactation Research and Science Translation (ABREAST) group, where she co-directs the Human Milk Biobank and the BLOSOM birth cohort. Lisa's work aims to support and improve early microbial assembly for lifelong health. Briony Barr (Author) Briony Barr is a visual artist who uses process-based drawing to explore ideas around structure, emergence, and the impact of different boundaries and generative limits. She regularly collaborates with scientists, writers, musicians, and dancers on a diverse range of interdisciplinary projects including making picture books and graphic novels about symbiotic microbes, designing large-scale, participatory drawings exploring complex systems, and performing live drawing to improvised music. She is co-founder of Scale Free Network. Dr Gregory Crocetti (Author) Dr Gregory Crocetti is a microbial ecologist, science educator, writer, and advocate for microbes. His PhD and post-doctoral research explored the roles of different populations of bacteria in a range of environments - including those found in mouse intestines, sponges, seaweed, stromatolites, and sewage - with his peer-reviewed scientific articles having been cited over 1,000 times. He is co-founder of Scale Free Network. Gregory also co-creates award-winning picture books and graphic novels about microbes and their symbiotic partnerships with larger forms of life, including the Small Friends Books series (www.smallfriendsbooks.com). Ben Hutchings (Illustrator) Ben Hutchings is co-founder of Melbourne's first comic studio, Squishface Comic Studio, where he works as a comic book publisher, animator, and coin designer. His previous works include Avanti! Tutta! for Lingopont, Mini Mel & Timid Tom, and The Invisible War- a tale on two scales.