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A hilarious illustrated non-fiction book about the worm, perfect for beginning readers. The humorous text and funny illustrations will give it trade appeal, while the non-fiction content is perfect for the institutional market.
     The second in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Worm is a look at the earthworm. It covers such topics as the worm's habitats (sometimes they live inside other animals), its anatomy (its muscle tube is slimy and gross), and its illustrious history (worms have been on earth for 120 million years). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Worm contains real information that will tie in with curriculum.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

7 people are currently reading
308 people want to read

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Elise Gravel

137 books552 followers

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5 stars
256 (42%)
4 stars
253 (42%)
3 stars
75 (12%)
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11 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
Profile Image for Dream.M.
1,059 reviews680 followers
July 30, 2024
یک داستان واقعی:
پسر یکی از اقوام خیلی خیلی نزدیک ما که نمیتونم بگم کیه، چون آبروی داییم میره، وقتی کلاس سوم_ چهارم ابتدایی بوده معلمش ازش سوال میکنه؛ آسکاریس در کجا زندگی میکند؟ اونم جواب میده در باسن ما. ( من نوشتم باسن ،شما خودتون می‌تونید حدس بزنید اون چه کلمه‌ای رو گفته) و معلم نادان جواب این پاسخ صادقانه رو با یک صفر بزرگ میده . واقعا جای تاسفه
Profile Image for sAmAnE.
1,373 reviews155 followers
July 21, 2025
خیلی بامزه و جالب در مورد فواید و مضرات کرم ، بخصوص کرم خاکی گفته بوده بود... که به نظرم مناسب بچه‌های ابتدایی برای درس علوم هست، بخصوص پایه چهارم که یکی از فصل‌های کتابشون بی‌مهره‌ها هست و مطالب البته فقط یه لول از سطح کتاب بالاتره...
Profile Image for Sara.
1,802 reviews564 followers
August 5, 2024
اطلاعات خوبی با تصویرسازی مناسبی انتقال میداد.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,521 reviews253 followers
July 20, 2015

The Worm is another fun installment in the Disgusting Critters series by Elise Gravel. This time out we visit and wiggle with worms.

I really like the humor in this series. It keeps readers flipping the pages and smiling. One of my favorite parts in this book was when we meet the Tapeworm. The first thing out of his mouth is –“I’m not actually sticky!” :D

BUT the parasite page gave me the willies, so I can only imagine what will go through kids’ heads when they read it. Be prepared for questions—especially if you’re a dog owning family. The picture of worms living inside the dog might cause some worry and wonder with kids. Very gross!

A fun way to learn and meet worms though.

Pick it up from your local Library.


Profile Image for Fatemehshahvari.
185 reviews16 followers
January 2, 2023
کرم خاکی چشم ندارد.
ولی می‌تواند نور را با چیزی به نام گیرنده‌ی تصویر «نورپذیر» حس کند.
--------------------
بسیاری از کرم‌ها دوجنسی هستند.
یعنی اعضای تولید مثل نر و ماده را باهم دارند.





تا اطلاعاتی دیگر بدرود. :)))
#کتاب_کودک_آموزنده‌ی_بزرگسالان
Profile Image for Kirsti.
2,975 reviews127 followers
December 30, 2022
I'm enjoying this series, which is called Les petits dégoûtants in the original. It sounds better in French! I learned that worms may have evolved at the same time at the dinosaurs and that some people consider worms to be delicious food.
Profile Image for Nicole.
512 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2015
Cartoon illustrations give a graphic novel feel. High interest text because sharing all the disgusting things about worm! Would be a great NF companion to Diary of a Worm.
203 reviews6 followers
March 8, 2014
This review also appears on my blog.

Slimy, pink, often seen with dirt or fishing hooks. What is it? The worm, of course! But how well do you really know them? Did you know that some worms can be as much as 115 feet long? Or that worms evolved with the dinosaurs? You'll learn that and more in Elise Gravel's book, The Worm.

TheWorm-cover

Gravel's The Worm introduces children to the titular invertebrate with a series of interesting facts, accompanied by simple, charming artwork.

TheWorm-photoreceptors

Each two-page spread presents a fact about worms, along with artwork demonstrating--or commenting on--the text. For example, the description of how a worm moves ("Earthworms move by squeezing their muscles, causing their bodies to contract and expand.") is accompanied by a helpful illustration; when the text is less kind to the worm ("An earthworm is basically a long digestive tract inside a muscle tube. It's that muscle tube that's slimy and disgusting."), the worm doesn't take it lying down, so to speak ("Hey! I am not disgusting!").

I enjoyed reading this book. The highlight is certainly the illustrations, but the book's educational content is interesting too, including some facts that even adults may not be familiar with ("many kinds of worms are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs").

The Worm, a translation from the French (original title: Le ver), is part of Gravel's Disgusting Creatures series, the other entry in which is The Fly , to be published simultaneously. It's recommended for ages 6-9.

The Worm is on sale March 11, 2014.

Disclosure: this review is based on an advance copy received free for review.
Profile Image for Ashley.
621 reviews14 followers
August 19, 2014
A fun take on non-fiction, this addition to the Disgusting Critters series is a fun and fast read. The worms seem a little sassy as they battle the term "disgusting" but nonetheless own up to the less glamorous parts of themselves as facts shape a quick narrative.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
143 reviews14 followers
October 28, 2015
A high-quality beginning reader book is rare enough, since it's a section of the market that kids plow through and no one can spend much money on individual titles.

And it's well-illustrated *and* it's nonfiction? Be still, my beating heart!
Profile Image for Amy.
368 reviews16 followers
May 27, 2015
My 7 year old found this interesting. It's cute and gives fun facts.
Profile Image for Kerri.
1,214 reviews16 followers
November 24, 2025
This was a pretty cute and informative read. Simple enough to read aloud to TH2, while entertaining TH1. I do like earthworms a lot, though the others I could do without, so I'm glad it focused on them. I even learned something new about the big worm that can grow up to 115 feet long! Pretty glad I have never seen that one to be honest. But it had a fun illustration in the book.
Profile Image for حسن صنوبری.
286 reviews108 followers
November 2, 2020
این به مراتب از کتاب اول (مگس) بهتر بود
بانمک بود
هرچند همچنان و تا این مرحله مجموعه خیلی جذابی نیست برایم
Profile Image for FabledHeartless.
66 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2021
Qui aurait cru que je mettrais un jour un livre parlant de vers dans mes très bonnes lectures ? Probablement pas moi et pourtant... nouvelle période avec les loupiots et un ver de terre colossal a fait son apparition dans la cour de récréation. Ni une, ni deux, on ramasse la bête et on lui fabrique un petit terrarium pour pouvoir l’observer dans la classe : c’est le début d’une grande aventure et de questions plus incroyables les unes que les autres. J’en suis venue à écumer les livres parlant de vers de terre (et expliquant leur mode de vie) adaptés à une classe de maternelle jusqu’à trouver cette petite chose et je dois avouer avoir été conquise dès les premières pages. Des illustrations rigolotes, un vocabulaire scientifique mais accessible (les mots compliqué comme « apode » ou « hermaphrodite » sont expliqués en contexte donc zéro complexité lié à ces mots bizarres pour les petits) et un traitement qui contribue au respect de la vie animale, même s’il ne s’agit « que » d’un ver. Un petit livre qui fait du bien, qui répond aux questions et qui se trouve être dans l’exacte lignée de ce que je veux transmettre à mes petits loups ! J’ai hâte de leur partager ça et de vérifier si le coup de cœur est unanime !
Profile Image for Tasha.
4,165 reviews138 followers
April 15, 2014
The first and second books in the new Disgusting Critters series of nonfiction picture books, these books take a humorous look at the biology of a specific creature. The first book deals with flies, specifically the common house fly. Inside are all sorts of interesting facts like the fly being covered in hair and information on eggs and maggots. More disgusting aspects are played up, which should appeal to young children, like the diet of flies and how germ filled they are and why. The second book is about worms and focuses on their unique anatomy, such as having no eyes and no limbs. There is also a focus on habitat, diet and reproduction. Throughout both books, humorous asides are offered, making this one of the most playful informational book series around.

Gravel combines both humor and facts in her book. She keeps the two clearly defined, with the animals themselves making comments that add the funniness to the books. The facts are presented in large fonts and the design of the book makes the facts clear and well defined. These books are designed for maximum child appeal and will work well in curriculums or just picked up by a browser in the library.

The art in the books, as you can see by the covers, is cartoonish and cute. The entire effect is a merry romp alongside these intriguing animals. I know some people believe that books about science for children should be purely factual, but Gravel’s titles show how well humor and touch of anthropomorphism can work with informational titles.

Information served with plenty of laughs, these science titles will be appreciated by children and teachers. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
Profile Image for Ashley.
189 reviews5 followers
March 29, 2014
Elise Gravel's The Worm was published March 11, 2014, and is the second book in a "disgusting creatures" series. Aimed at readers ages 6-9, this hardcover non-fiction book is filled not only with fun facts about worms, but the adorable illustrations give it a witty and humourous feel that kids will thoroughly enjoy.

The Worm very much reminds me of the style, humour — and sass! — of Mo Willems' The Pigeon books. As the narrator tells kids about the different kinds of worms and where they live, the worms add their own comments, or exaggerate the narrator's point. For example, the narrator is at one point describing earthworms and says, "It's that muscle tube that's slimy and disgusting." And the worm looks offended as he replies: "Hey! I AM NOT DISGUSTING!" Of course you are, worm, but you're also cool!

Elise Gravel's accessible language, charming illustrations, and witty worms will get kids interested in animals they wouldn't necessarily want to read about. But there's something wonderful about the ridiculousness of a cute little worm whistling as he drives a dump truck or telling readers to feel his muscles (because earthworms move by squeezing their muscles!). You get to laugh with and at worms, but also take something away from the story, and therein lies the value of this series.

The Worm will make a great addition to classrooms, libraries, and personal bookshelves, and will interest fans of Mo Willems, who enjoy an engaging book that they can enjoy again and again.

4 Stars
Profile Image for Andrea Blythe.
Author 14 books87 followers
March 24, 2014
Elise Gravel presents an adorable look at the worm, a creature generally considered to be disgusting. It presents a collection of interesting facts about worms, along with a bit of humor to make it fun. The artwork has a nice combination of bright colors and matte tones and the hand lettered fonts make the book visually appealing.

I also love that the pages are nice and thick. Most kid-book paper is surprisingly thin, just making it all that much easier for kids to tear. Not that my niece won't be able to rip through this one, but I'm hoping she'll have a bit more of a challenge of a while.

As soon as I showed her the book, my niece was very excited about it (though to be honest, she seems to be excited about all books these days) and she immediately began flipping through the pages. She didn't seem to be all that interested when I read it to her. Maybe this was because there wasn't a story, more a listing of facts. Though it may also have been because of other distractions in the room.

Elise Gravel also has two other books in the "Disgusting Critters" series, The Fly and The Slug, both of which I'm considering buying, so that my niece will have a complete collection.

Note: This was an ARC from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers givaway.
Profile Image for Arminzerella.
3,746 reviews93 followers
December 30, 2016
Meet the worm. Elise Gravel, author and illustrator of the Disgusting Critters series books has made the humble (and occasionally disgusting) worm both accessible and interesting to young readers – the ones who are especially delighted by anything gross. And, although the series name implies differently, Gravel takes pains to point out – in the words of the Earthworm – that they are not disgusting at all. In fact, they’re useful and fascinating (and sometimes even delicious!). Great series.

Excerpt from the blurb on the back cover:

“Elise Gravel has always been fascinated by disgusting little creatures. At three-and-a-half, she founded the Organization for the Defense of Disgusting Critters, of which she was both president and the only member. Nowadays, when she’s not busy petting a worm or a fly, she writes and illustrates strange children’s books.”
Profile Image for Ellie.
584 reviews21 followers
September 10, 2016
Best book about worms I've ever read :) Cute and sweet and funny and full of information (at a pre-K/early elementary level) about worms. I especially like the way they explained the way earthworms move and how they help make the soil great for growing stuff. When I was a kid, we would go on walks after it rained and I was pretty dedicated to picking up every single worm on the street and "rescuing" them by tossing them back into the grass. I think little Ellie would have loved this book too.
Profile Image for Shelli.
5,175 reviews56 followers
October 20, 2014
The Worm is a humors fact-filled work of wormy goodness! The expressive illustrations are adorable, or as adorable as drawing of worms can be. Kids will learn from and love the informative text; a wonderful addition to any elementary classroom or library. I can’t wait to check out the other books in this Disgusting Critters series.
Profile Image for Steph.
5,447 reviews85 followers
February 20, 2015
This was TOTALLY gonna be 5 stars; what fantastic illustrations and a fun, easy-to-understand way to learn about worms. (I bet the entire series rocks.)

But then they mentioned that worms are hermaphrodites and I thought... hmmmm... maybe it's not a word I want to be teaching my little ones.

So 4 stars, but I did seriously love this book.
727 reviews
November 4, 2015
Everything about this book is perfect. Starting with the shape and size of the book, a little shorter than an early reader - it is easy to hold. The illustrations are cute and simple. There is lots of fascinating info about all kinds of worms and there is humor that both kids and their grown-ups will appreciate!
Profile Image for Jaye .
244 reviews104 followers
September 23, 2016
The answer to the question I was hoping to find (but didn't) in the book:
"Q. What is the collar or band in the middle of the earthworm?

A. The band is the clitellum. This saddle-shaped, swollen area is about 1/3 of the way back on a worm's body. The clitellum secretes mucus to form the cocoon which will hold the worm embryos."
from:
https://www.learner.org/jnorth/search...
84 reviews
June 8, 2018
Samantha has just gotten roller skates, she is eager to try them out. So without her mothers permission she puts them on and goes on a downhill adventure. Good book for teaching about motion, wheels, axles, friction, and balance.

Kids might want to read this not to learn--- but for fun!
Profile Image for Jess.
2,678 reviews33 followers
February 4, 2017
Interesting, snarky, and fun.

Earthworms have no eyes but sense light with "photoreceptors: sensors in the worm's skin that react to light."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews

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