"Down in the garden , just under the ground, a small wriggly worm is crawling around."--Worms Are Our Friends by Toni D'Alia

April slipped in yesterday, with spring trailing close behind. This time of year, flowers boldly bloom on the trees, grass tentatively peeks up from the ground, and pollen abounds. With everything sprouting up, it's the perfect time of year to teach kids about gardening, composting, and the bugs who help everything grow. One of the most important garden buddies to have are worms, and Toni D'Alia's book, Worms Are Our Friends teaches kids why. She brings her readers to the garden to see the hard work worms do and shows us the important role they play in nature.

About Worms Are Our Friends

In cheerful, rhyming text, Toni D'Alia shows readers a day in the life of a worm. She gives us a glimpse into the tunnels they make, and explains how these tunnels help the soil. She introduces kids to the idea of decomposition, sharing how worms like to eat garden waste and leftovers. This short and sweet story packs in many important details about worms through simple, engaging language kids will enjoy. D'Alia's book offers a wonderful starting point for teaching kids about a worm's role in the garden and for conversations about how everything in creation has a job to do. She also includes a list of fun facts about worms at the end, adding even more to discuss with kids after finishing the story.

About the Illustrations

No review of a picture book would be complete without discussing the artwork. However, the illustrations in Worms Are Our Friends are especially deserving of attention. The colors are bright but soft, adding to the overall warm and welcoming tone of the book. Mimi Purnell fills each spread with detail and movement. Butterflies and bees float across the pages. Rain swirls, tunnels weave, and flowers bloom in a colorful array. Purnell brings to life the best images of spring, making the worm's garden a lovely place to visit.

Final Thoughts

Worms Are Our Friends is a fantastic picture book for spring. I would especially recommend it for homeschoolers and families who enjoy educational books. The story gives a great starting place to talk not just about worms, but also about composting and what it takes for plants to grow. The book could be paired with fun activities such as digging for worms and observing them in the garden.

This book would also be a great way to discuss with kids the important jobs animals have in nature. After reading this book, kids could be asked what other animals they can think of that do important jobs in the garden. (For example, bees pollinating the flowers or ladybugs eating aphids).

There are so many wonderful ways this book can help encourage children's curiosity about nature, making it a great addition to any home library.

Karley Conklin

Karley Conklin is a librarian by day, a writer by night, and a bookworm 24/7. For more of her writing, visit litwyrm.com