Just a Worm

by Marie Boyd, Marie Boyd (Illustrator)

Overview

After being called “just a worm” by two children, Worm embarks on a journey around the garden to prove them wrong. Debut author-illustrator Marie Boyd seamlessly incorporates concepts of nature, natural selection, habitats, and interdependence in this picture book beautifully illustrated with a cut-paper technique called quilling.

Worm isn’t “just a worm,” no matter what anyone says. Worm is special! Right? Worm sets out across the garden to prove it, interviewing one garden inhabitant after another. Butterfly seems to have all kinds of important qualities—as do Snail, Dragonfly, Ladybug, and Spider. But what can Worm do? What makes Worm special? Maybe Worm is just a worm after all . . . and what’s so bad about that!

This STEAM-themed picture book explores the many wonderful and unique ways in which Worm and friends contribute to the garden and work together to make it grow. Just a Worm celebrates everyone’s individuality and highlights the importance of interdependence—how it’s necessary for a stable, collaborative, and healthy environment. Using the ancient craft of quilling, Marie Boyd meticulously created each illustration out of strips of colored paper that she shaped, layered, and glued to produce a lush three-dimensional world.

Just a Worm is a great read-aloud for family sharing and is a terrific choice for classrooms where the concepts of nature and the natural world are introduced, as well as for teaching social skills such as collaboration and empathy.

Includes a quilling craft for young readers, facts about earthworms, a glossary, and a special message to readers from Worm. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063212565
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/14/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	291,189
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Marie Boyd studied chemistry in college and is currently a law professor at the University of South Carolina. An expert in cosmetics and food regulation, she loves spending time outside, whipping up new creations in the kitchen, and—of course—quilling! Just a Worm is her first book for children. Marie Boyd currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her family. 

Marie Boyd studied chemistry in college and is currently a law professor at the University of South Carolina. An expert in cosmetics and food regulation, she loves spending time outside, whipping up new creations in the kitchen, and—of course—quilling! Just a Worm is her first book for children. Marie Boyd currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her family. 

Editorial Reviews

06/19/2023

An earthworm determinedly attempts to debunk the idea that it’s “just a worm” in this educational tribute. To prove its worth, the subject—rendered in pen and ink—attempts comparison, interviewing various other creatures about their impressive skills: “Oh. I can only dig and hide,” responds Worm after learning all about a butterfly. While Worm remains visually two-dimensional, Boyd’s scenes consist primarily of three-dimensional paper art, which features elaborate quilling techniques. The wiggler (and the reader) eventually come to appreciate the unique role its kind plays in helping make a garden grow by providing the aeration that plants need, among other essential abilities. It’s a predictable, but no less encouraging, conclusion that offers an important takeaway about self-confidence. An activity and facts conclude. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. . . . The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. . . . An engaging, informative narrative.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Boyd takes readers on a journey through a spring garden as a worm tries to discover what makes it special. Along the way, it speaks to various bugs and insects about their own talents before finding its own. . . . The information works best with preschoolers, who will love the standout in the book: gorgeous paper quilled artwork, which makes the garden jump off the page. . . . A lovely first work, and a talent to watch.” — School Library Journal

“An earthworm determinedly attempts to debunk the idea that it’s ‘just a worm’ in this educational tribute. . . . Boyd’s scenes consist primarily of three-dimensional paper art, which features elaborate quilling techniques. The wiggler (and the reader) eventually come to appreciate the unique role its kind plays in helping make a garden grow.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

03/01/2023

PreS-K—Boyd takes readers on a journey through a spring garden as a worm tries to discover what makes it special. Along the way, it speaks to various bugs and insects about their own talents before finding its own. The book offers little information about worms themselves (only a handful of pages speak to worm's talents). Facts offered about the various bugs in the garden tend toward superficial knowledge that many young readers will already know, without answering natural questions that may arise in reading. For instance, ladybug tells worm, "I protect plants by eating insects, like aphids." Rather than sharing more details about why aphids are harmful to plants, the dialogue jumps back to what worm eats. Back matter offers a limited glossary of only four words and a handful of worm facts, as well as instructions for a beautiful (though only tangentially related) butterfly craft. The information works best with preschoolers, who will love the standout in the book: gorgeous paper quilled artwork, which makes the garden jump off the page. Worm going about its business is a funny character to watch, and children will simply enjoy the book for its beauty. VERDICT A lovely first work, and a talent to watch, Boyd only needs a stronger story to balance the knock-out art.—Lindsay Loup

School Library Journal

2022-11-16
What can a worm do?

A little worm sets off on a “twirl” to “see the world.” But when it overhears a human referring to it as “just a worm,” its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters­—including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly—what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can’t do any of these things. “Maybe I am just a worm.” But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can’t pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn’t hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews