Wiggly Earthworms

Children's Literature - Kris Sauer

Earthworms are not gross. Earthworms are not gross. Keep saying that to yourself, for though they are wiggly and decidedly slimy, they are definitely adored by farmers, gardeners, and fisherman alike. Ranging from a mere inch to over 12 feet in length, these segmented invertebrates are among the earth's most important creatures. Building underground tunnels, earthworms help plants of all kinds grow. They do so by loosening the soil from underneath, providing access for air and water to reach the roots of the plants above. Because they eat dead leaves and other rotting plants, their castings (waste) break down to become earth's internal fertilizer. The text includes information on the earthworm's natural habitat, diet, physical characteristics, behavior, and survival techniques. Full-color pictures, well-placed side bars and short, simple text make learning about this particular creepy crawly a fun and easy task. Part of the "No Backbone: Creepy Crawlers" six-title series, the text is aimed at students at the second grade reading level but is designed to hold the interest of those in kindergarten through grade three. Extensions at the back include a page on vertebrates versus invertebrates and a glossary smartly enhanced by photographs to support early readers. As with other books of this genre, a table of contents is included as is a very brief index and suggestions for further research. Libraries or classroom teachers needing to enhance their collections will find this title particularly useful for a life sciences unit as well as in support of animal classification lessons. Reviewer: Kris Sauer