This Is a Book to Read with a Worm

by Jodi Lyn Wheeler-Toppen, Margaret McCartney (Illustrations)

If you can find a worm, then you can be a biologist!

Foster a love of animals and science with this charming activity guide for finding and observing earthworms. Hands-on experiments help young biologists answer questions like "Which end is which?" and "Do worms make noise?" Insider tips encourage readers to think like a scientist and handle living things with care. Equally entertaining with or without a worm friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Stem, Animals, 1st Grade, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2020

Reviews

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

"STOP! To read this book you are going to need a worm. If you don't have one, go outside to find one. Look for a damp, leafy spot and..."--The Worm

With Worm as narrator and guide, two children discover and examine a worm - oh so carefully! Delightful. Worm facilitates their hands-on exploration with directions like, "Hold up your worm face-to-face." and questions like, "Not much of a face, is it? Can you find eyes? How about a nose?" The gentle care of the captive worm is also a goal of the narrator--"Pour some water on a paper towel and settle your friend on top. Worms don't have lungs. They get oxygen through their wet skin." (At the beginning of the book, there’s a Dear Reader letter from Worm that includes, “When you find me, please remember that I am a living thing. Treat me gently and don’t do anything to hurt me.”) Worm also has a sense of humor, "Feel free to give me a name. Just don't expect me to come when called."

The illustrations of the children examining the worm are bright and vibrant; the layout and design is super kid-friendly.

Recommend this for families AND for classrooms that are exploring worms and other living things. Wheeler-Toppen’s writing is clear and the narrator’s thoughtful and humorous tone make for an EASY BOOK TO READ ALOUD to students in grades K-3. The book could easily act as a hands-on guide for a small group of students discovering the world of worms. I’d also use the book as a MENTOR TEXT for writing workshop; lots of room for conversations about perspective and tone.

[McKell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a worm and named him Wendal J. We read this book together it was a beautiful learning experience.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Book to Read With a Worm by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen, illustrated by Margaret McCartney. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2020. $17. 9781580898973

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

First instruction – go find a worm. Then follow the author’s instructions to investigate your worm – not just its looks, but how it works!

I can’t testify as to how many of the worms will survive the hands of budding scientists, but I do know that this looks like a lot of fun to occupy a whole class for a solid hour. There will be lots of giggles and shrieks, I am sure, but it will be so much fun.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childrens nonfiction, biology. When I saw this title, I wasn't expecting it to be literal. But this book walks the reader through an earthworm observation, which is best done with a worm in hand. Throughout, the are of the worm is emphasized. There is an unseen narrator and a cartoon worm that also has speech bubbles throughout, often with phonetic pronunciation of vocabulary words. This book takes the reader through the following: locating a worm, gathering supplies, feeling the worm's skin and identifying the clitellum, finding the head, testing its reaction to a flashlight, testing its reaction to the smell (not touch) of rubbing alcohol, looking through the worm to identify organs (held up in a sandwich bag and using a flashlight), imitating the movements, listening to the movement of the setae, and leaving the worm in a covered clear bottle overnight in order to admire the tunneling prowess.

It's a cool book, and would be really exciting to use with a kid or group of children. It does also work as a book just to read, but I kind of want to go find a worm... Illustrations feature one white-presenting girl and one Black boy. I personally would have been okay with a little more clear directions for the procedures, rather than reading them in narrative form, but then it may not have been as attractive to the target audience.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interactive beginning science book that focuses on earthworms and the good they do for our world. Kids are encouraged to find and observe an earthworm and take the time to learn about them in a quiet, hands-on way. Throughout the text, it is emphasized that worms are an important part of the ecosystem and should be handled carefully and returned to where they were found.

Humane families note: Earthworms may not be as complex as vertebrate animals, but of course we know that kids' early interactions with even the smallest and most humble creatures is an important baseline for forming compassionate attitudes. This book, from the very beginning, emphasizes that worms are living things too and we need to treat them kindly and gently. At the same time, some of the handling may be a little much on the worm--so adults should observe carefully--and the book does ask kids to give store-bought nightcrawlers to a "fisher friend" instead of releasing them into the natural environment.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book discusses worms. It gives several activities to do with a worm to learn more about it and its parts. This is a great book to give to young children about worms. It is filled with information, hands on activities and illustrations to help the reader learn. I would recommend this book to those libraries that need more information about worms. I know I just had a request recently for more information about worms.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly an educational and kid-friendly! This book presents lots of excellent ideas for ways to study and learn about worms. I do worry for the book's safety if kids are supposedly handling it with wormy/dirty hands (and, despite the precautions written out in the book, I worry about the safety of the wormies being studied, too!).

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS IS A BOOK TO READ WITH A WORM--literally. Full of gentle observation and experiments you can do, all while treating your lab partner (an actual earthworm) carefully. Facts & humor & hands-on activity make this a #PictureBook to engage any kid (even one freaked out by worms, like I always was!). @WheelerToppen @Charlesbridge #KidLitSTEM #MargaretMcCartney #AmReading #nonfiction

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it would be EXTRA fun to read this book with a worm in hand, it's charmingly illustrated and informative on its own. A delightful nonfiction picture book that should find a happy spot in elementary libraries, classrooms, and most definitely science labs!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance I thought this would be a fiction, a cute couple of kids and a worm having adventures. But it’s actually a clever hybrid, a couple of cute kids who want to find a worm, read it a story, and observe how the worm lives. Great combo of pics and facts, resources at the end.

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting nonfiction! It has great experiments, lots of meaty and fascinating information and really neat and informative illustrations! Besides reading for fun, this is great for homeschool or in class curriculum.

[Brenda Kahn]

Terrific STEM title - hands on, engaging, informative and well-illustrated. Loved this.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. If you like picture books, nonfiction kidlit, STEM, and/or worms, you definitely need to read this one.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book leads you through how you can study a worm (gently). Budding young scientists will love this.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of worm science experiments. So many things to do....

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great way to introduce kids to science. Go play with a worm.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and am going to read it with a few of my composting red wigglers once it's warm enough to get them out of their box!