The Worm Family (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) [Hardcover]

Tony Johnston (Author), Stacy Innerst (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)

The Worm family loves being wormy. They're skinny--they're squiggly--they're very long--and they sing loud worm songs. They're nothing like their glossy, bossy, buggy neighbors. And the neighbors don't like that one bit. What are the Worms to do? Jump back into their skinny car and hope to find nicer neighbors somewhere else? Or stay put--and show the world the Glory of Worm?

In a tale both warm and quirky, a family of merry, down-to-earth worms proves that being different is truly grand. They may not fit in, but they carry on, doing things they love with the family they love--and finally find some fuzzy-wuzzy neighbors who like them just as they are. Oh joy! They're Worms!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 - A unique take on prejudice. The seven-member, peripatetic Worm family is very enthusiastic about its worminess. "Oh, joy! We're Worms!" is their self-affirming mantra, the first two words spelled out with their twisty bodies in Innerst's clever oil paintings. However, wherever they reside, the other families of spineless-but-armed neighbors rebel and throw weird things (valises, toothbrushes) to urge the Worms to move on. Johnston's vocabulary is challenging - "flumped," "jubilate," "regaled" - and she portrays the Worm family as not only proud but also loud, making this strange picture book tough to pigeonhole as a comprehensible lesson for youngsters. Still, there's supplemental value to this nonstory for adults to help kids realize that "each individual is different but compatible,"although the "glorious" bit seems rather much. - John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
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Review

Innerst's (M Is for Music ) antic oil paintings, which picture the Worms standing tall like fingers or curling in graceful esses, recall Barry Root's rocking and reeling imagery for Brave Potatoes , another spirited tale of self-actualization. 

-- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Grade 1-3 - A unique take on prejudice. The seven-member, peripatetic Worm family is very enthusiastic about its worminess. "Oh, joy! We're Worms!" is their self-affirming mantra, the first two words spelled out with their twisty bodies in Innerst's clever oil paintings. However, wherever they reside, the other families of spineless-but-armed neighbors rebel and throw weird things (valises, toothbrushes) to urge the Worms to move on. Johnston's vocabulary is challenging - "flumped," "jubilate," "regaled" - and she portrays the Worm family as not only proud but also loud, making this strange picture book tough to pigeonhole as a comprehensible lesson for youngsters. Still, there's supplemental value to this nonstory for adults to help kids realize that "each individual is different but compatible,"although the "glorious" bit seems rather much. - John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX (School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152050116
• ISBN-13: 978-0152050115
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #749,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stacy Innerst is an acclaimed children's book and editorial illustrator. His picture books include: "M is for Music" by Kathleen Krull; "The Worm Family" by Tony Johnston; "Lincoln Tells a Joke" by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer and "Levi Strauss gets a Bright Idea" by Tony Johnston. He has lived in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, Seattle, northern Scotland, Ohio, Illinois, Texas and North Carolina and he has very nice things to say about all of those places. He currently resides in Pennsylvania with his family and their beloved schnauzer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worms!! yuck! or are they?, March 23, 2005

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worm Family (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover)

The Worm Family is very "wormy". They are long, and squirmy. They like to sing loud. They are very different from there bug neighbors. They neighbor are mean to them and the Worm family decides to move somewhere where they will not be judged by others. They try several places but always run into others who don't like them because they are different. Finally they find a worm family just like them and all goes well from then on out!

There are lots of themes that can be discussed with this book such as family, self esteem, and worms.

We would recommend this book for families to read and discuss together. This is a great story to illustrate that just because some one is not just like you that doesn't mean that they don't have feelings that can get hurt.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worm family, March 4, 2006

By 

Fran Sturgill (Coal City, WV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worm Family (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This book along with "Diary of a Worm" are great for children ages six to eight. They become very involved in the book and identify with members of the family. Austin and Miranda were thrilled with the books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny and twisted, May 23, 2006

By 

S. Pearsall (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worm Family (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This book is totally whacky and really different. It's also very fun to read to a 3-year old. If you like Maurice Sendak (I'm thinking particularly of "Outside over There") or William Joyce (the "George" books), or even the "George and Martha" books, with their weird sense of humor, you'll love this one.