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Cells at Work! Picture Book #1

Cells at Work! Picture Book 1: The Great Bacteria Vs. White Blood Cell Battle!

Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26
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32 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 15, 2026

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Kumi Makimura

28 books

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5 stars
27 (58%)
4 stars
16 (34%)
3 stars
3 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Mehsi.
16k reviews471 followers
Read
June 1, 2026
I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This was a lot of fun! Not per se a traditional picture book, more a simplified manga, but a lot of fun nonetheless and I loved every moment! Recommended!

Review to come in September!
Profile Image for KC.
209 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 21, 2026
Book Review: Cells at Work! Picture Book 1: The Great Bacteria Vs. White Blood Cell Battle! by Kumi Makimura

Cells at Work! Picture Book 1: The Great Bacteria Vs. White Blood Cell Battle! takes the familiar premise of the Cells at Work! universe and compresses it into a short, educational story focused on a single infection event inside the human body. White Blood Cell responds to invading bacteria while Red Blood Cell provides a simpler observational perspective, giving readers a basic introduction to how the immune system reacts. The structure will feel immediately recognizable to fans of the manga or anime, even though it is presented in a much more streamlined format.

The artwork is a strong point of the book. It is intentionally simplistic, which makes it easy to read and follow, especially for younger or less experienced readers. At the same time, it stays true to the original manga’s character designs and visual style, so the franchise identity is not lost. The clarity of the illustrations does most of the explanatory work, making the scientific concepts accessible without needing dense text.

However, the simplicity also means the story lacks the humor, tension, and character depth that define the main Cells at Work! series. The pacing is very direct, and the narrative feels more like a single educational vignette than a developed story. Readers expecting the energy or layered storytelling of the manga may find it somewhat flat in comparison.

It also sits in an interesting audience space. While it is formatted as a picture book, it may not be ideal for very young children or toddlers due to its biological framing and battle like depiction of cells. Instead, it is likely to resonate more with older children, teens, and even adults who already enjoy the concept and want a simplified, visually clear introduction. Overall, it is a well executed educational adaptation that earns a solid 4 out of 5 for clarity, visual faithfulness, and accessibility.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Rue.
33 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 28, 2026
Cells at Work!
By Kumi Makimura
Pub Date: 15th September 2026

✨5/5 Stars
Vibes Check:
📓 Manga
🧫 Science
👶 Chibi Style

1st in a series

As a fan of the anime I just knew I had to scoop this little treasure up!

Reading it felt like the perfect gift for any absolute manga beginners but don't let that fool you! Even as a fully grown adult I was completely and utterly charmed and will absolutely be chasing down the rest of this series. The darling chibi art style is simply too cute and the magical little facts about our inner workings are top notch.

It is a delightfully clever guidebook all about the tiny cell citizens and microscopic monster germs that bump into us every day. It beautifully shows how our magnificent bodies know exactly how to orchestrate a rescue mission whenever we catch a pesky cold or something else entirely!

I would heartily recommend this journey to any Cells at Work! enthusiast or truly anyone wishing to peek inside the bustling secret world thriving right inside of them. Plus it makes for the perfect inviting gateway into the marvelous universe of manga for anyone who hasn't yet taken the leap!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, Akane Shimizu and Kumi Makimura for the ARC. Also reviewed on Goodreads, StoryGraph & Fable.

Disclaimer: My rating reflects the pure vibes and magic I felt while reading!
Profile Image for Johnpatrick.
118 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 3, 2026
Reviewed prior to publication thanks to ARC from NetGalley and Kodansha US.

The Cells at Work! extended universe expands into children's lit! Based on my experience with the anime, I felt that original recipe Cells at Work! would be too intense for my 5yo daughter, but the theme of fighting personified germs and ailments is very pertinent to her interests so I was happy to scoop this up.

The Picture Book follows the same basic structure of the other series where a female-presenting Red Blood Cell gets a front-row seat to male-presenting White Blood Cell's heroic defense of the body against disease and injury. It continues the series' commitment to communicating accurate science and medicine in a whimsical fashion but does so at an early elementary school level.

I found it to be a success at every level. Not only has the science been simplified, but the artwork is a simpler, cuter style (and needless to say the blood and gore is absent). My daughter was especially charmed by the platelets (portrayed as Kindergarteners in this version). This 32 page issue is divided into two short stories with scientific interludes. It feels like extra effort was spent to end each story with a bang (one literal) to delight children. I'll definitely be following this new series - now I just need someone to do the same thing with Delicious in Dungeon!
Profile Image for The Witch.
117 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 22, 2026
I didn't expect a picture book about the human body to be this charming and entertaining. Cells at Work! Picture Book Vol. 1 turns a biology lesson into a colorful adventure where red blood cells, white blood cells, and bacteria become lovable characters, each playing an important role in keeping the body healthy.

The illustrations are bright, expressive, and easy to follow, while the explanations are simple enough for young readers without losing their educational value. The story blends humor with action, making the battle between the immune system and invading germs exciting rather than frightening. It's the kind of book that teaches children about science without making it feel like they're studying.

What I loved most is how every page sparks curiosity and reminds readers that the human body is an incredible place full of hardworking cells. Even though it's written for children, I think older readers and fans of the Cells at Work! series will also appreciate its creativity and attention to detail.
Profile Image for Beena K.
231 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
August 27, 2026
My kids were completely obsessed with this one, flipping pages like tiny scholars in training, and honestly watching them light up over a manga format was adorable, they'd never seen anything like it. I had my doubts the whole time though, if I'm being honest. The illustrations are stunning, genuinely, the kind of detail that makes you stop mid-page like a woman who has nowhere better to be. But the story itself felt more like an explanation wearing a story costume, better suited to an older kid who can absorb the science without me playing full-time translator. And then it just ends, no real send-off, right as I was finally settling in, which genuinely bummed me out because there was clearly something good buried in here. Gorgeous to look at, just needed a story with a little more heart to match it.

Disclaimer: I got this book as an ARC (thanks to the author, publisher, and everyone else involved for this chance), and this review is 100% my own honest thoughts, written because I wanted to, chaos included, as usual.
Profile Image for Eve Rever de livre.
112 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 31, 2026
ENGLISH/FRANCAIS

It's so cute! This is the children's version of the manga of the same name. I loved discovering the original version years ago, and this children's edition is truly PERFECT. It's adorable, yet educational and funny at the same time ! I think this is a book that should be available in libraries, media centers, and also in schools for budding young scientists!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for letting me read this title in advance.

------

C'est d'une mignonnerie ! C'est la version enfant du manga du même nom. J'ai adoré découvrir ce titre dans sa forme original il y a des années et cette version ci pour enfant est vraiment PARFAITE. C'est adorable mais en même temps être éducatif et drôle ! Je pense que c'est un livre que l'on doit trouver dans les bibliothèques, médiathèques mais aussi à l'école pour les petits scientifiques en herbe !

Merci Netgalley et la maison d'édition de m'avoir permis de lire ce titre en avant première.
15 reviews
June 20, 2026
NetGalley ARC

I love the anime so I couldn’t resist reviewing the picture book.

While it is meant for younger audiences, I think that it can be enjoyed by all ages because it is informative, while remaining short and straight to the point. This allowed me to focus easily because there were no boring repetitions or scenes that were longer than necessary. For example, there is a scene in which a character is lost, and instead of showing all the wrong turns or places they visited, it was cleverly executed by adding a maze, which also works as an interactive activity.

The chibi style is adorable, a perfect fit for the audience. Speaking of the intended audience, which is kids, I appreciated that the evil guys (bacteria) were defeated through bonks and bops. I loved it and couldn’t help but laugh because it was so cute.

I think it is a perfect introduction for kids on how the human body works and the importance of actions like washing their hands.

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley.
Profile Image for Elia RS.
73 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 7, 2026
This is a short, full-colour picture book that focuses on the role of each cell and how they work together. It is fun to see bacteria attacking the body while the White Blood Cells defend it like soldiers. It becomes an entertaining way to explain how the body reacts when it detects an intruder and how each element works together to protect it.

The additional explanations are simple and easy to understand. They complement the story without interrupting the reading experience.

One of the most interesting aspects is the page design itself. It reproduces the feeling of moving through the body, making it easier to understand what is happening instead of simply decorating the pages. I like it as a complementary way of approaching something scientific and complex. The book simplifies many processes and gives each cell its own personality, and that is precisely what makes it so engaging.
1,355 reviews38 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 19, 2026
A nice way for children to discover and explore the workings of body cells. Particularly their role in protecting the body against the attack from germs.

There’s an engaging story presented in pictures of how red and white blood cells work against infections.

There are some big words throughout the comic, mainly the cells names. There is also a more detailed text description about how the cells work at the end of each section.

So children of different ages and reading abilities will be able to access this comic.

I suppose the text doesn’t say clean hands and wounds as a first line defence. But it’s good to know our body’s cells are ready to engage when needed, and how they go about it.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Profile Image for Cherry May.
43 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 23, 2026
Cells at Work! Picture Book 1: The Great Bacteria Vs. White Blood Cell Battle! was such a cute and enjoyable picture book. The illustrations are colorful, and the information is presented in a clear way that makes the body’s immune response easy to understand without making it feel like a lesson. I especially liked how the book turns the battle between bacteria and white blood cells into a simple story. It explains what is happening inside the body while keeping the reading experience light and entertaining. The educational side never interrupts the story, which makes the information easier to remember. I would recommend this to adults as well as children. I am 28 and still enjoyed it, and I honestly wish books like this had existed when I was younger. It would have made learning about the human body much more interesting.
87 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 3, 2026
Absolutely ridiculously cute little manga. Combines a cute personification of components of blood with impressively solid definitions of the actual medical and anatomical vocabulary and concepts. A young enough reader would just have cute little story about a red blood cell being saved by her friends from the dangers of infections. Older readers have plenty of room to pick up a solid understanding of the roles of different blood components as they act as part of the immune system. I was really impressed by the description of scab formations and the role of platelets. It's extremely readable and and approachable.

Definitely a cute read that has me excited for the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC of this manga.
54 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 20, 2026
This was such a cute way to show how all the different cells work in our body! It really made studying fun with all the cute little drawings and the adorable art style. I really liked how the characters worked together like the red blood cells, white blood cells, and the platelets. Sometimes it can be so boring to just read a plain textbook about cells, but I really enjoyed getting to envision all these important cells in a new and unique way. I recommend this book to students who want a break from studying their traditional biology textbooks, but want to still read something to help them stay productive in their studies.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy to review!
Profile Image for Lanie Brown.
441 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 27, 2026
Honestly, I just kind of assumed this would be more of an artbook than anything, so I was pleasantly surprised when it had a whole story. Honestly, though it's Cells at Work! which is an absolutely wonderful series so even if all it had been was an artbook it would have been fantastic. Upside to for those that may not have a ton of time to read a full manga too is that it is very short, still a complete story but a quick read.

It's a given that I recommend this one, I love this series and I think everyone should read and/or watch it!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!
Profile Image for Jess.
258 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Cells at Work is so cute and I wish I had read this in college! It certainly would have helped me remember the functions of the human body better. This chibi-fied version reads like traditional manga from right to left and features two chapters on sneezing and scrapes! It provides highly detailed and scientific explanations all through very adorable storytelling. This is a great addition to the original books and the anime!


Thank you to Net Galley and Kodansha Comics for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Alicia.
9,191 reviews168 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 14, 2026
Give me all of the Cells at Work spinoffs that can possibly be mustered because I am enthralled by the creativity of taking the body systems and anthropomorphizing it so that EVERYONE can understand the science of the body. This picture book version of the bacteria versus the white blood cell with the red blood cell taking a gander about what's happening is fantastic for the intended audience.

The more opportunities we can to learn and have manga for the younger grades, the better and THIS is the kind of manga I'd push any day!
Profile Image for The Milner Collective.
150 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 23, 2026
Great first Manga for kids. Love the graphics and explains how the cells work in a easy to understand digestible format. I would personally love to see something like this in elementary schools.

My only criticism is that the formatting needs to be reviewed when viewing the ebook on a laptop. It was fine on my mobile, but if I only has access to read on my laoptop, the font all showed up in white and was illegible on most backgrounds. However, I'm sure this will be taken into account and corrected prior to the release.

Thank you Net Galley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!
Profile Image for bookcookery.
342 reviews4 followers
Read
June 3, 2026
Quirky, cute, and educational, this picture book offers an engaging overview of the circulatory system. There's enough scientific detail to satisfy younger readers with an interest in biology, while the action and drama will help keep less science-focused readers engaged. If anything, the story arcs feel a little too short, and it definitely made me curious about the original series on which it's based.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
47 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 4, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC!!

This was a really cute book! I’m a huge fan of the Cells At Work Series and I love that this is made to both educate kids on biology but also get them excited and interested in it. This takes the original volume/episodes of the anime and turns it onto a quick, fun manga that’s perfectly reworded where necessary for kids to fully grasp. I think this is going to be great for parents and teachers to use on children!
Profile Image for Jada.
163 reviews
September 8, 2026
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

Cells at Work! is such a fun series! This Picture Book showed chibi versions our beloved Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell, and the Platelets as they battled different kinds of bacteria. The cute visuals and informative chapters are a great way to introduce children to bodily functions and the importance of taking care of your body. Our cells work hard for us; let's help them out by taking care of ourselves!
Profile Image for Anusha Narasimhan.
277 reviews298 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 10, 2026
I love "Cells at Work!" and was excited to receive an advanced review copy from NetGalley. This volume shows how bacteria are transported out of the body through sneezing and how scrapes are patched up using cute chibi-style characters to represent the cells in the body.

Informative and fun for kids and adults alike. There are also some puzzles to keep things more interesting.

Highly recommended! Thanks to the publisher for the free digital copy.
Profile Image for Ines.
639 reviews11 followers
May 27, 2026
Cells at Work! Picture Book 1 was such a cute and instructive read! It explains things in a fun, accessible way for children while still being really entertaining. The only thing I wished for was maybe one more chapter as the ending felt a little abrupt. Overall, though, a really adorable book that I’d definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Nitoy Gonzales.
825 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 28, 2026
Wow! Manga + Science = Super cool! I enjoyed this manga like I'm enjoying a typical manga. No information overload or over the top manga antics. well balanced read that will hook you in and be engaged till the last page. I like that this one has two stories and some information provided. The artwork is good and the pace is smooth not slow burn or rushed.
Profile Image for Adri Holt.
336 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June 4, 2026
After watching the anime of this several years ago, I was ecstatic about this ARC. The approach that the artists and authors take in both the anime and mangas, is a neat way to explain the way the human body fights, protects, etc. This is a must-read for littles and adults alike.

#ThxNetGalley #KumiMakimura #CellsatWorkPictureBook1TheGreatBacteriaVsWhiteBloodCellBattle
5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 4, 2026
This book was both adorable and entertaining while still being informative. It was both engaging and educational in a way that you didn't know you were learning until the end. The minigame was very cute and the explore more page was a very nice review of the info just learned. Will be a fun addition to the children's library collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Profile Image for Rugz.
115 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2026
Read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley

5 out of 5 ⭐️

Absolutely adorable comic with so much factual information, just like the anime I’ve watched previously. Great for anyone who enjoys manga or is interested in the human body. Highly recommend
Profile Image for Engel Dreizehn.
Author 5 books1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 29, 2026
ARC Copy...Thought that was cute and hilarious like the original manga series. Felt the original story and biology lessons were trimmed down for the kids in an accessible way compared to the original manga and the illustration was bright and colourful too which I liked.
Profile Image for Jasmin.
129 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 1, 2026
Thank you Netgally for a copy for a review

I loved the manga and anime of this so I had to check this out! This is very cute illustration and I think perfect to show children so they can learn more about our bodies.
15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 7, 2026
The story is written well with surprise at the end, and pictures are well drawn. It is a cute little book that tells a short story and at the same time gives you an idea of how immune system works. Kids love this book too.
Profile Image for Natalya.
1,224 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 8, 2026
This was a super cute picture book that adapted the Cells at Work! manga. The pictures will for sure capture the eyes of kids and the educational information will help teach the kids who read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews