Why Don't Worms Have Legs

Children's Literature

Because they don't need them to get around underground! The "What, Where, Why?" series (first published in Britain) provides some basic answers to questions young children often ask about the world around them. With an easy-to-handle square format, kids can track the information on each two-page spread along an illustrated trail linking text and bright color photos, finding along the way an additional question (answers in the back) and, at the end, a multiple choice quiz as lead-in to the next page. Although the information is available in many other books, the format allows for a certain amount of interaction with the text and the illustrations are chosen for appeal and clarity. In this volume, young gardeners can learn about seven small creatures—spiders, caterpillars, bees, ants, tadpoles, ladybugs, and, yes, legless worms—commonly seen in gardens and in picture storybooks, too. Readers may be especially intrigued to see the large photo of a ladybug's eggs and to watch the small red beetle feasting on aphids. These attractive science books would be fun for a parent and child to share. Teachers might use one to introduce a more wide-ranging unit, while the extra questions on each subject ("Do adult frogs always live in water?") could lead to further research, writing, and even field trips. A short index is included and a useful illustrated glossary will help independent readers with unfamiliar words. 2004 (orig. 2003), Gareth Stevens, Ages 4 to 8.
—Barbara L. Talcroft