Review by Booklist Review
A wiggling earthworm sets out to see the world, but its self-esteem is crushed when two children (depicted from the worm's perspective as sneakered feet) remark upon seeing it, "EW!" and "It's just a worm." Knowing deep down that it's more than "just a worm" but doubtful about its abilities, Worm asks some garden mates what they can do. Intricate, brightly colored illustrations crafted from quilled, or rolled and shaped, paper and other mixed media create lovely, textured scenes as Worm learns how Ladybug protects plants by eating small insects, Bee makes honey, and other bugs help a garden thrive. While Worm explains that it eats dead plants and animals and makes poop castings instead, the insecure annelid still doesn't appreciate its talents until meeting Snail, who also crawls and makes slime. With Snail's bolstering, Worm makes a lengthy list of its garden-growing attributes. In addition to brief earthworm facts, the simple, cheery yet educational text becomes a STEAM resource with a quilled-paper craft. A concluding personal-skills prompt from Worm even encourages SEL dialogue.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
An earthworm determinedly attempts to debunk the idea that it's "just a worm" in this educational tribute. To prove its worth, the subject--rendered in pen and ink--attempts comparison, interviewing various other creatures about their impressive skills: "Oh. I can only dig and hide," responds Worm after learning all about a butterfly. While Worm remains visually two-dimensional, Boyd's scenes consist primarily of three-dimensional paper art, which features elaborate quilling techniques. The wiggler (and the reader) eventually come to appreciate the unique role its kind plays in helping make a garden grow by providing the aeration that plants need, among other essential abilities. It's a predictable, but no less encouraging, conclusion that offers an important takeaway about self-confidence. An activity and facts conclude. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--Boyd takes readers on a journey through a spring garden as a worm tries to discover what makes it special. Along the way, it speaks to various bugs and insects about their own talents before finding its own. The book offers little information about worms themselves (only a handful of pages speak to worm's talents). Facts offered about the various bugs in the garden tend toward superficial knowledge that many young readers will already know, without answering natural questions that may arise in reading. For instance, ladybug tells worm, "I protect plants by eating insects, like aphids." Rather than sharing more details about why aphids are harmful to plants, the dialogue jumps back to what worm eats. Back matter offers a limited glossary of only four words and a handful of worm facts, as well as instructions for a beautiful (though only tangentially related) butterfly craft. The information works best with preschoolers, who will love the standout in the book: gorgeous paper quilled artwork, which makes the garden jump off the page. Worm going about its business is a funny character to watch, and children will simply enjoy the book for its beauty. VERDICT A lovely first work, and a talent to watch, Boyd only needs a stronger story to balance the knock-out art.--Lindsay Loup
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What can a worm do? A little worm sets off on a "twirl" to "see the world." But when it overhears a human referring to it as "just a worm," its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters---including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly--what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can't do any of these things. "Maybe I am just a worm." But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can't pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn't hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper--a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes--which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
