How to Catch a Bookworm

by Alice Walstead, Andy Elkerton (Illustrator), César Samaniego (Illustrator)

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series comes a delightfully book-tacular new adventure...do YOU have what it takes to catch a BOOKWORM?

Read alongside the How to Catch kids as they scour their books for the squiggly-giggly Bookworm that has escaped their local bookstore! It's up to the Catch Club kids to find this wiggly critter before class begins. Filled with STEAM concepts and an adorably bookish creature, this hilarious picture book is parents, educators, and readers ages 4-10.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I am what is called a BOOKWORM.

Books are what make me happy!

I dive right in, wiggle and squirm. 

Also in the How to Catch  

How to Catch a UnicornHow to Catch a MermaidHow to Catch BigfootHow to Catch a DinosaurHow to Catch a DragonAnd more!

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this that are about books and really fun and imaginative. Kids can put themselves into the adventure, and it's such a cute, funny writing style.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a little meh on the How to Catch book series. I mean, it's a fun series to be sure—and How to Catch a Bookworm is certainly an entertaining read—filled with color and adventure, something that's sure to catch and keep a kid's attention. And while I loved the imagery in this, seeing all these kids engage in reading different books as the bookworm narrates the importance of them, I find myself thinking that this just isn't a book that I'm going to go out of my way to add to my shelf.

I think it's largely that I just don't fully get the "catching" importance outside of it simply being the theme of the series. All that said, I will admit that this is a super clever way to write a book about the love and importance of reading. And I think, out of all the "Catch a" books, this one is hands down my favorite. There's definitely a more interesting message in this one to me than I've seen in the few others I've read. And I think that just speaks to my love of books more than anything else. I've never been exceedingly drawn to these books, so it may be that this is just an "it's not you, it's me" issue I have.

I do think that there's a lot of worth in these books for those who like them and the children who are entertained by watching the kids concoct elaborate plans for how to catch whatever creature is featured in the book.

This is definitely not a book I'd give to an emerging reader, though. It's another for the "parents must read this to the kiddos" for a bit shelf. It's got words like "figuring," "expecting," "scream," and "busy," all of which are not the sort of books that most kids just learning to read are going to be able to decode.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love reading the "How to Catch" series of books and this one just adds to the fun!

From my son's review: I liked that the bookworm traveled through books and learned as he went from the words he read. He loved exploring the books and was interested in reading about a bunch of different topics. I loved seeing the creative traps the kids made to try to catch him.

The pictures were really cool and made me want to read more books so a bookworm might come to my room too (but not eat my homework!). My favorite part was the big library adventure because it made me wish I could stay in the library after closing. Can I sleep there?

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Kids for this ARC in exchange for our honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Catch a Bookworm is a fun, high-energy celebration of reading that will delight young book lovers. The story engages the power of books and imagination, and the cast of characters reflects a beautiful tapestry of skin tones that mirrors the diversity of our world.

The illustrations are vibrant and playful, drawing kids into each page. I especially appreciated the bolded key words sprinkled throughout the text, which help highlight new vocabulary for little ones to add to their repertoire. This is a great choice for story time, especially for families and classrooms hoping to nurture a love of reading from an early age.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Catch a Bookworm by Alice Walstead is an absolute five-star delight! A fantastic addition to the "How to Catch" series, this picture book captures the pure joy and wonder of discovering new books in a fun, engaging adventure.

The story is highly interactive, following the "Catch Club" kids as they search for an escaped bookworm. With bright, beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming central theme celebrating imagination and literacy, it's a perfect read-aloud choice for children ages 4-10. It’s a guaranteed hit that belongs on every family's bookshelf!

[Kelsie Bowler]

How to Catch a Bookworm is a celebration of reading and a great story to help get young readers excite about reading. It can engage the littlest ones by trying to find Bookworm in the illustrations, and bigger littles who explore the different types of books that it showcases, opening up the world of reading and all the possibilities it contains!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mrs. G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun "How to..." book geared towards book lovers. This follows the fun chase of a bookworm through various types of books. My elementary school children enjoyed the book and finding the worm throughout the pages. They did roll their eyes heavily at the line "books are so totally lit". The line felt forced and a bit cringy.

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are huge fans of this series in our house and can't wait to add this one to out collection. This one was super fun and my kids love finding all the little easter eggs that are always in the illustrations. This one didn't seem to be as cohesive between the worm and the kids trying to catch him. I think i noticed it more as a parent though because my kids still absolutely adored it.

[Makenna Moffat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this to my toddler at bedtime. It was such a cute story, especially since he is obsessed with books just like the bookworm. The illustrations were so cute and well done. My little one followed along the entire story and was engaged in the cute little bookworm and his adventure.

[Angelica Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely adorable! My 6 y/o loved searching for the worm on each page. The colors were bright and eye catching. This was a great read for kids and is amazing for us parents who are book nerds! Highly recommend!

[Kara]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

A fun little picture book of a bookworm introducing the reader to the many different types of books, letting young readers now about how there is a book out there for every mood and every interest!

[Rachel Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great how to catch book. My kids were entertained. I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in Schlage for an honest review.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be good for kids who like books about books. The illustrations were good, but not memorable. This book was fine, just not a favorite.

[Francesca Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! My 4 year old loves this book and my 6 year old with a vision impairment enjoyed the images! Definitely worth getting!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc. I read this book to my son and we loved it it was so cute. I absolutely love this series and this book was no different