Boyd, Marie. Just a Worm. Marie Boyd, Illus. HarperCollins / Greenwillow, 03/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-0-06-321256-5. GRADES Preschool – 2. ADDITIONAL.
Worm travels through his garden world trying to prove that he is more than “just a worm.” He feels unremarkable when he learns of the abilities of the creatures he meets. He finally takes stock of some of the ways he benefits the garden, from eating dead bugs to making castings that feed the plants. Colorful quilled paper art illustrations add a lot of depth and visual interest but because only very basic information is provided about earthworms, this book’s usefulness in a school setting is limited to preschool and kindergarten classrooms. The back matter contains some fun facts about worms and instructions for making quilled paper insects and flowers.
Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District