Diary of a Worm [Hardcover]

Doreen Cronin (Author), Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One small worm . one big world!

This is the diary . of a worm. This worm lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn't have legs, he just can't do the hokey pokey – no matter how hard he tries.

This hysterical picture book by New York Times bestselling author Doreen Cronin and New York Times bestselling illustrator Harry Bliss tells the daily doings of a small worm in a gigantic worm world.

Ages 4–8

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Doreen Cronin (Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type) and cartoonist Harry Bliss (illustrator of A Fine, Fine School) shed a whole new light on a creature that spends most of its time underground: the earthworm. Written in diary form, this truly hilarious picture book tracks the ins and outs of a worm's life from the perspective of the worm family's young son. Take June 15's entry: "My older sister thinks she's so pretty. I told her that no matter how much time she spends looking in the mirror, her face will always look just like her rear end. Spider thought that was really funny. Mom did not." Except for the fact that he can't chew gum or have a dog, the boy likes being a worm. He never has to go to the dentist ("No cavities--no teeth, either"), he never gets in trouble for tracking mud through the house, and he never has to take a bath. As long as he can remember Mom's rule "Never bother Daddy when he's eating the newspaper," all is well. Bliss's endearing cartoonish illustrations of anthropomorphized worms are clever visual punchlines for Cronin's delightfully deadpan humor. For example, "June 5: Today we made macaroni necklaces in art class" sounds normal enough until you see the worms wearing one piece of macaroni around their necks, taking up a good part of each worm's body. Children and adults alike will adore this worm's eye perspective on the world. (Ages 6 and older) --Karin Snelson

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A baseball-capped crawler gives readers an episodic glimpse into the vicissitudes of his life in these hilarious diary entries. Difficulties such as having no arms, having a head that looks a lot like your rear end, and facing the dangers imposed by people digging for bait are balanced by a loving family and good friends. The young protagonist describes playing with his friend Spider, engaging in a variety of activities at school, and interacting with his parents and sister. Packed into these droll slice-of-worm-life vignettes are a few facts about earthworms and their behavior, all rendered with a dry sense of humor. The full-color watercolor-and-ink illustrations sprawl across the pages in lush earth tones. Bliss's cartoons give the worms lots of personality without overly anthropomorphizing them. The use of multiple perspectives will have children eagerly looking at the pictures to identify objects and locales. Primary-grade youngsters will especially appreciate the classroom scenes. This quirky worm's-eye view of the world makes these ubiquitous invertebrates a little more understandable and a lot more fun.
Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006000150X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060001506
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hysterical read for kids AND parents!, March 5, 2004

By 

C. H. Poorman "carmiehead" (The Beautiful Bluegrass State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Worm (Hardcover)

"Diary of a Worm" is a prime example of how the right combination of illustrator and author can make an amazing book!

As part of the Junior Girl Scout "Books Badge," I asked my 12-year-old Girl Scouts to read a review of "Diary of a Worm," then read the book and see if they agreed with the reviewer's opinion. Well, those 12-year-olds were soon cracking up at the idea of a worm diary, but they laughed even more at the directions in which the illustrator took the diary entries.

When the little boy worm writes, "July 4... When I grow up, I want to be a Secret Service agent..." my girls roared at the picture of two little worm agents in sunglasses and earpieces, wearing black suit jackets (no pants, of course). They laughed even harder as one girl pointed out, "Look! He drew the jacket with sleeves, but they've got no arms to put in them!"

How funny are these little details? Take a close look at: a dentist whose name tag reads "Dr. D. Kay"; macaroni necklaces consisting of one piece of macaroni that completely encircles the worm's neck; and the books that the worm is dragging home from school, with the titles "DIGGING - A History" or "Compost 101."

The funniest bits, however, are the illustrations on the book's endpapers! They are meant to look like the little worm's scrapbook, and have family photos with his captions written underneath. A picture of him with a baseball says "I found this really cool rock!" Another drawing is a corner of a $20 bill with the caption "Isn't this leaf awesome?"

My five year old son adores this book. AND so do I, AND so do all of my 12 year old Girl Scouts! No mean feat (or feet, either!) (sorry, couldn't resist a "feet" joke)

We all HIGHLY recommend this book. :-)

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Wonder This Book Tops The Bestseller List, September 25, 2003

By 

Portianay "portianay" (KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Diary of a Worm (Hardcover)

The most entertaining, truly hilarious picture book I have picked up in a long time! This one crosses the line of humor, in that small children, to whom it is being read, will "get it," but the adults reading will be howling. I always enjoy a Cronin read, but she has surpassed herself this time. Favorite entry in the diary: his comments on his sister's enjoying her own reflection.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and different, September 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Diary of a Worm (Hardcover)

My 3 1/2 year old son loves this book, and so do his parents! I bet my son will think twice next time he wants to step on a worm. I really recommend this book because it's really funny; some of the things I have to explain to my son, in a humorous way of course, but that's part of our bonding while book-reading. It's a great book.