Friends Come in All Sizes

Read and color this short story to learn about the mutually beneficial relationship between small, soil-dwelling worms and their bacterial partners.

illustration of a nematode and bacteria fighting in armor

Meet Nema the nematode and her friends the bacteria

Did you know that all animals depend on bacteria to develop and thrive? Read and color in this short story to learn about the mutually beneficial relationship between small, soil-dwelling worms and their bacterial partners.

Download the flat print version to read the story on a computer or tablet. Print out either the “Flat Print” or the “Book Fold” versions of the story.

For the “Book Fold” version, print double-sided in landscape orientation, choose flip on short edge.  When all the pages have printed, just fold the packet in half, such that the title page is in the front.

cover of Friends Come in All Sizes coloring book showing smiling nematode and bacteria

Materials Checklist

  • Printed booklet
  • Crayons or other coloring medium
  • Stapler (optional)