Diary of a Worm

Rating:
Summary: This is such good reading!
Review: We love this book--my kids and yes, me, too! It's just so cute, and the title is hilarious. We gave it to my nephews for Christmas, and I know they will enjoy it. Very, very fun!

Rating:
Summary: Warm and Amusing!
Review: What a truly enjoyable book! Doreen Cronon (author) and Harry Bliss (illustrator) have come together to create an enlightening story, DIARY OF A WORM, which portrays the characteristics and life of an earthworm by giving it human qualities and comparing it to other creatures. The book is hilariously written in a diary format from the perspective of a young worm boy in a baseball hat. The human scenarios in which the worm is depicted give way to glimpses of the real life characteristics of a worm such as not having to go to the dentist because worms have no teeth. Interaction with other creatures leads to one of my favorite parts when the worm boy says good morning to an ant and then the other 600 ants that follow!

It is not surprising to have Doreen Cronin create another wonderful text after already having successes with CLICK, CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE and GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK. Harry Bliss continues to provide delightful and warm illustrations (including the scrapbook like pictures at the beginning and the end of the book) as in A FINE, FINE SCHOOL.

DIARY OF A WORM, especially for PreK through 3rd grade, lends itself as a great example for teachers to use to introduce and model "Voice", one of the "6 Traits of Writing", to students. It would be a great lead into students writing from the perspective of someone or something else. This book can also lend itself well to identifying and discussing humor using the delightful and amusing perspectives woven through it. Related activites could include the study of worms as well as comparison to other creatures such as spiders. The developmental assets of "self-esteem" and "personal power" from the "40 Developmental Assets" are supported by this book.

DIARY OF A WORM is entertaining and highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Fun for adults and children
Review: When I read this book aloud to my 5 year old son and my 60 year old mother, we all enjoyed the story. It is a very humorous look into the life of a worm.

This has quickly become my son's favorite book. We have read it so much in the past couple days that he is now reciting it back to me. I saw some had concerns in other reviews about the best things about being a worm. I don't think this is a book to be taken so seriously and I believe my 5 year old understands that as well. I can't see this book making him scared of the dentist or resistant to bathing, nor do I think this will make him any more or less likely to track mud through the house. It is simply a fun silly book.