Jodi Wheeler-Toppen is a science teacher and science writer with a
passion for helping young people become confident science readers
and writers. Her many books for curious kids include Cat Science
Unleashed, Dog Science Unleashed, Edible Science, Recycled Science,
and the Our Amazing Senses series. Jodi does NSTA professional
development workshops and author visits across the country.
Margaret McCartney studied illustration at Rhode Island School of
Design. Her design work has appeared on everything from garden
gloves to comics to her own line of children's wear, Winter Water
Factory. This Is a Book to Read With a Worm is her first book.
www.margaret-mccartney.com
Readers are encouraged to find a worm and to employ careful
observation techniques.— Immediately after the title page, a
bespectacled worm wearing a blue scarf—it acts as commentator
throughout—reminds readers to be gentle when picking up worms and
to return them safely to their places of origin after studying
them. (Environmentally conscious endnotes both suggest acquiring a
worm from a bait shop if one is not available outside and caution
against introducing these worms into the natural environment.) Two
children, one black and one white, look out toward readers as if
hearing the words printed above them: "Stop! To read this book you
are going to need a worm." Indeed, without a worm in hand, half of
the text becomes moot. Readers—along with the two children—are
urged to run a finger along the worm's body; to stare into the
worm's "face"; to carefully observe worm sensitivities to alcohol
fumes and light beams; to listen for the bristles called setae by
holding up a paper-wrapped worm to an ear; to create a one-night,
dirt-filled worm hotel in a clear plastic bottle. For a book that
seems otherwise eco-conscious, it is a surprise that a glass jar
used with care is not recommended over plastic. As the gently
humorous text gives directions and nature facts, the whimsical
worm's speech bubbles offer vocabulary pronunciations and tips
about keeping worms healthy while they are under surveillance. The
graphic art is lively and colorful, well matched with the text. For
exciting, optimal use, expect brown-edged pages.
—Kirkus Reviews
“Stop! To read this book you are going to need a worm,” this
succinct guide instructs readers. After being advised to
be gentle with their wriggly subject, readers follow along as
two friends, an African American boy and a white girl, find a worm
and learn about its body and habits. While Wheeler-Toppen’s
(Recycled Science, 2016) book takes the form of a story, each
double-page spread imparts one main idea and accompanying
instructions and facts. Large-scale diagrams show the parts of a
worm, and insets offer extra facts, worm-anatomy terms with
pronunciation, and tips about how to care for the creatures (a
cartoon worm appears occasionally to offer advice and thanks). A
closing spread takes a more traditional approach, offering
information about how worms reproduce and how to distinguish among
worm species. The clear, pleasing illustrations throughout are
done in muted primary colors and earth tones, complementing the
book’s message to be kind when dealing with nature. A classroom
study of worms could benefit from this book, alongside Vivian
French’s Yucky Worms.
—Booklist
Just in time for spring, Wheeler-Toppen (Cat Science Unleashed)
invites young scientists to head outside for an
up-close-and-personal earthworm encounter. Her interactive activity
guide uses a conversational narrative to speak directly to readers.
“Run your fingers across your worm’s back. Feel the bump-bump-bump
as you slide across the rings.” McCartney’s picture book debut
employs digitally colored ink and pencil cartoons featuring a pair
of curious children who carefully observe and enact the suggested
mini-experiments. Materials such as a wet paper towel, flashlight,
plastic bag, and cotton swab are used to learn about a worm’s
sensory reactions and locomotion, culminating in the final project:
making an overnight “worm hotel” from a plastic bottle.
Speech-bubble asides from a worm in fashionable John Lennon glasses
and scarf provide additional facts and occasional humor. Though
prefaced with a note reminding experimenters to “Treat me gently
and... put me back where you found me,” these hands-on observations
of a living creature are likely most appropriate alongside a
monitoring grown-up. Illustrated back matter anticipates further
questions with plenty more worm facts and a resource list.
—Publishers Weekly
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