Module Six...Diary of a Worm

Diary of a Worm by Dorren Cronin.  Illustrated by Harry Bliss.

Cronin, D.  (2003).  Diary of a worm.  New York, NY:  Jonna Cotler Books; An Imprint of Harper Collins Books.

Summary:
The title of this book tells the reader exactly what the books is about:  It is a diary of a worm.  We do not know the worm's name but the diary is an inside look at the life of a young worm.  We learn that the worm lives in the dirt, goes to school, is friends with a spider, goes to dances with his friends, where they do the "hokey pokey"..."but that is all we can do", he laments.  He is sad that he cannot chew gum  or get a dog as a pet.  He is also sad that he has too much homework.  The great thing about being a worm however, is the fact that he never has to go to the dentist, never gets "in trouble for tracking mud through the house", and never has "to take a bath."  In the end he says its not easy being a worm because they are small and often forgotten except by the earth that "never forgets we're here."

Impression:  I found this to be a very delightful book.  It was smart and funny.  It teaches children to see that everything has its job and place in the universe.  No animal is without person and by extension, no person is without a place in the universe.  The illustrations are bright and cheerful which is a great accomplishment since this is a book about brown worms that live in brown dirt.  I would recommend this to any children's librarian or homeschool parent.

Reviews:

Diary of a Worm (Book) (2004).  School Library, 5028.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 24, 2013).

A down-to-earth invertebrate comments on friendship, family life, school and his place in the universe.  An amusing worm's-eye view of the world with a tongue-in-check text and wry illustrations.

Oliff, G. (2007).  Diary of a Worm.  School Library Journal, 53(8), 44.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 24, 2013).

Cronin combines the silly (practicing manners by saying hello the first ant in line only to realize there are 600 more) and the information ("when we dig tunnels, we help the earth to breathe") in this clever glimpse into the daily life of a worm.  Comical cartoon illustrations with varying perspectives aptly convey a worm's-eye view and just might spark interest in a classroom worm farm.

Engelfried, S.  (2005).  Diary of a Worm.  School Journal, 51(6), 55.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 24, 2013). 

This worm's-eye view describes the dangers (hopscotch and fishing season) and pleasure (scaring kids and eating garbage) of life in earth.  The diary format provides deadpan explanations of worm school, worm play, and the worm version of the "Hokey Pokey."  Droll illustrations pack personality into each expression.  Scrapbook "photos" on the end pages complete the portrait of a very funny invertebrate.

Libary Use:  This is a great book to use in a unit of life science.