What is a Giant Microbe? These plush dolls look like common microbes — only a million times their actual sizes! From ulcers to Ebola, they’re humorous, educational and quite contagious. Each 5- to 7-inch microbe doll comes with an image and information about the microbe it represents. These germs of endearment are better than a get-well card for a sick friend.
— Dave, founder and head of Sillyasstoys, Richmond, Va., thought the Giant Microbe plush toys are the coolest things around. “They’re one of our biggest sellers.”
— “Kids love them and so do teachers. We sell a lot to schools. They make biology fun and cuddly,” explained Susan Richards, manager for Educational Innovations Inc., Norwalk, Conn.
— Michael Stipe, lead singer of REM, even got some of these at Kawaii Gifts in Pittsburgh, Penn. (of all places).

With five favorite mini microbes dressed up for Christmas: a Stomach Ache Gingerbread Man, a caroling Sore Throat, Frosty the White Blood Cell Snowman, an angelic Nerve Cell, and an exclusive Amoeba in sparkly gold lamé, only available in this set.

Each petri dish of orange putty in the company’s new line of product, GIANTmicrobes® Primordial Putty, includes a different collectible figure. Choose from Flesh Eating Disease, Black Death, Ebola Virus or Anthrax. Perfect for Halloween parties and stocking stuffers. Launch date: 2012.