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Nature Storybooks
Yucky Worms
Here’s to nature’s recyclers! Kids will burrow right into this book about the industrious — and danger-filled — life of the delightfully yucky earthworm.
Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.
Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2010
About the author
Vivian French
584 books144 followersVivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
November 10, 2023
Has all the extra info and small-print-for-the-nerdy-keeners that ALL children's non-fiction should have (even I learned a few things). ;)
Same author as "Hello, Horse". Was equally well-received by tiny audience.
Same author as "Hello, Horse". Was equally well-received by tiny audience.
December 9, 2010
Yucky Worms is a lot of fun to read. According to Julia it's a lot of fun to listen to as well. In the story a grandmother finds a worm in her garden and shows it to her grandson. Instead of listening to her grandson she begins to teach him about these creatures.
There are a lot of little facts thrown in that inquisitive, "teaching" children will relish. A full body diagram of a worm is also included in the beginning with not only the outside but the inside of a worms body as well.
Along the way, on certain pages, there are worms who are saying their own little things. One worm finds a leaf and a little bubble is shown near the worm with the words "Nice and rotten. Just how I like it." Super cute!
There is even a description (and picture!) of worm poop. Who knew. One has to wonder though because the picture of the worm poo here is about the size of three worms. If this is realistic then I pray I'm never reincarnated as a worm.
Another page shows an underground area, with tunnels zig-zagging here and there and worms traveling through certain ones.
So many facts are here for the taking, how worms help the earth and plants, what worms eat, what eats the worms, and French dispells the rumor that cutting a worm in half won't kill it also.
I'm quite sure that many kids, after reading this, will want to perform some experiments of their own with worms.
So, basically, even adults can learn something from this because I never knew that worm poo could be visible to the naked eye.
There are a lot of little facts thrown in that inquisitive, "teaching" children will relish. A full body diagram of a worm is also included in the beginning with not only the outside but the inside of a worms body as well.
Along the way, on certain pages, there are worms who are saying their own little things. One worm finds a leaf and a little bubble is shown near the worm with the words "Nice and rotten. Just how I like it." Super cute!
There is even a description (and picture!) of worm poop. Who knew. One has to wonder though because the picture of the worm poo here is about the size of three worms. If this is realistic then I pray I'm never reincarnated as a worm.
Another page shows an underground area, with tunnels zig-zagging here and there and worms traveling through certain ones.
So many facts are here for the taking, how worms help the earth and plants, what worms eat, what eats the worms, and French dispells the rumor that cutting a worm in half won't kill it also.
I'm quite sure that many kids, after reading this, will want to perform some experiments of their own with worms.
So, basically, even adults can learn something from this because I never knew that worm poo could be visible to the naked eye.
June 24, 2010
LOVED this book! It worked really nicely with our library's outdoor gardening program for K-2 kids and taught them a lot of things they didn't know about worms such as how worms have five pairs of hearts and how they move through the dirt. A great read-aloud too which great descriptions and diagrams of worms and what they can, and can't, do.
November 1, 2021
Sophia and I loved reading this book together! Loads of interesting facts and a great story. We can't wait to get out and have some fun in the garden!
September 9, 2018
I borrowed this book from the library and read it to my grandson. He and I both loved it so much that I bought it for him.
While in the garden, a grandmother and grandson find a worm. What follows is a simple and engaging story about how worms move through the soil; providing aeration and 'poop' which helps plants to grow and thrive.
The illustrations are wonderful, too.
While in the garden, a grandmother and grandson find a worm. What follows is a simple and engaging story about how worms move through the soil; providing aeration and 'poop' which helps plants to grow and thrive.
The illustrations are wonderful, too.
November 22, 2018
This is very good because worms are vital to the well being ofthe earth
also
yums
also
yums
June 15, 2026
The writing was pretty naff in this one but the overall content was great. Especially the illustration and little details. Definitely worth getting for little kids and introducing them to the world of the garden.
August 17, 2010
A young boy was in his grandmother’s garden when she found a worm. He is disgusted by it, but his grandmother insists that he should be friends with worms. She then returned the worm to the ground to demonstrate which end of the worm was which. The book goes on to discuss in the grandmother’s voice different aspects of worms, what they eat, how they survive the winter, what worm castings are, and how they help the plants in the garden. The illustrations are light-hearted but can quickly become scientific when called for. This is a great blend of picture book and nonfiction facts presented in a winning way.
French’s use of a grandmother narrator works well here, framing the nonfiction in a story that makes it very approachable. It also allows the narrator to explain misconceptions that the young boy has about worms, like the widely held belief that worms can be cut in two and still survive. Not true! Ahlberg’s illustrations offer asides by the worms themselves, a mole carrying a grocery list, and wonderful views of below the ground.
A great book to share with children who want to know more about these wiggly creatures in the garden, this book reads like a picture book and offers facts for children who are looking for them. Readers of the book will quickly learn that worms are far from yucky. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
French’s use of a grandmother narrator works well here, framing the nonfiction in a story that makes it very approachable. It also allows the narrator to explain misconceptions that the young boy has about worms, like the widely held belief that worms can be cut in two and still survive. Not true! Ahlberg’s illustrations offer asides by the worms themselves, a mole carrying a grocery list, and wonderful views of below the ground.
A great book to share with children who want to know more about these wiggly creatures in the garden, this book reads like a picture book and offers facts for children who are looking for them. Readers of the book will quickly learn that worms are far from yucky. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
June 7, 2012
Yucky Worms
By Vivian French
Illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg
This picture book is a lot of fun to read and tells the story of a boy who is spending time with his Grandmother in the garden. He is disgusted when he comes across a worm but the grandmother explains why he ought not be disgusted, telling him all about the crucial work a worm does.
This book would be great to read aloud to a key stage 1 class of children particularly before a field trip or during a mini-beasts topic. It contains a lot of information about worms: their biology, what they do and how to find them. As well as addressing common misconceptions, such as if you cut a worm in half it makes two worms. This is not the case, it actually makes one dead worm in two pieces. Though it contains a lot of information it is presented in a fun way along with dense and humorous illustrations which the children would benefit from having time to investigate.
I really enjoyed reading this book on my own in Gants Hill library and know that it would be lots of fun to share with a Key stage 1 class. It has a poo count of seven, which would have been greater if the more accurate/ scientific term ‘worm casts’ had not been adopted.
By Vivian French
Illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg
This picture book is a lot of fun to read and tells the story of a boy who is spending time with his Grandmother in the garden. He is disgusted when he comes across a worm but the grandmother explains why he ought not be disgusted, telling him all about the crucial work a worm does.
This book would be great to read aloud to a key stage 1 class of children particularly before a field trip or during a mini-beasts topic. It contains a lot of information about worms: their biology, what they do and how to find them. As well as addressing common misconceptions, such as if you cut a worm in half it makes two worms. This is not the case, it actually makes one dead worm in two pieces. Though it contains a lot of information it is presented in a fun way along with dense and humorous illustrations which the children would benefit from having time to investigate.
I really enjoyed reading this book on my own in Gants Hill library and know that it would be lots of fun to share with a Key stage 1 class. It has a poo count of seven, which would have been greater if the more accurate/ scientific term ‘worm casts’ had not been adopted.
April 22, 2013
Ah, the lowly earthworm. Who knew you were so interesting?
Yucky Worms is pretty well put together! There are lots of interesting facts about earthworms in here; their anatomy is explored, as is their benefit to our gardens and to the soil in general. Also covered is their diet, and what animals include them in their diets. This book really encourages children to get down in the dirt and really (respectfully) examine worms (which my niece and nephew attempted to do immediately after we finished this book, but unfortunately, no worms offered themselves up for scientific examination).
The kids also found this book to be quite funny. There are all kinds of funny things that the worms in this book "say," and worm poop is discussed on several pages, so you know, kids are going to find that to be remarkably hilarious. The funniest part of this book, though, was when Grandma was telling her grandson at length about what creatures eat worms, and then she says, "Ok, it's snack time!" Her timing really made us wonder what Grandma was planning on serving up! DON'T EAT THE COOKIES!!
Yucky Worms is pretty well put together! There are lots of interesting facts about earthworms in here; their anatomy is explored, as is their benefit to our gardens and to the soil in general. Also covered is their diet, and what animals include them in their diets. This book really encourages children to get down in the dirt and really (respectfully) examine worms (which my niece and nephew attempted to do immediately after we finished this book, but unfortunately, no worms offered themselves up for scientific examination).
The kids also found this book to be quite funny. There are all kinds of funny things that the worms in this book "say," and worm poop is discussed on several pages, so you know, kids are going to find that to be remarkably hilarious. The funniest part of this book, though, was when Grandma was telling her grandson at length about what creatures eat worms, and then she says, "Ok, it's snack time!" Her timing really made us wonder what Grandma was planning on serving up! DON'T EAT THE COOKIES!!
March 4, 2015
Yucky Worms is a story about a little boy learning about worms in his grandmother's garden. Initially, a worm his grandmother finds disgusts the boy, but when given all the fascinating facts about worms and their impact on the environment, the little boy embraces worms as his "friends".
I think that Yucky Worms is a great book for both children who are interested in creatures, and for students who want to learn more about worms. Given this, I would say that Yucky Worms is both a picture book and an informational book. For example, there is a section within the story (at the bottom of the page) where a worm is pictured, and all it’s major body parts are labeled. This book would also be great for primary grades as a read aloud. Also, for slightly older readers, the informational portions would be of high interest. Additionally, the illustrations use colors that are nicely compatible. This makes the drawings very eye appealing. Also, it does a great job illustrating for the factual components of the book.
I think that Yucky Worms is a great book for both children who are interested in creatures, and for students who want to learn more about worms. Given this, I would say that Yucky Worms is both a picture book and an informational book. For example, there is a section within the story (at the bottom of the page) where a worm is pictured, and all it’s major body parts are labeled. This book would also be great for primary grades as a read aloud. Also, for slightly older readers, the informational portions would be of high interest. Additionally, the illustrations use colors that are nicely compatible. This makes the drawings very eye appealing. Also, it does a great job illustrating for the factual components of the book.
July 24, 2010
This book really surprised me. I expected it to be an ordinary story about being afraid of worms, but instead it was an entertaining and very informative book about the lives of worms. Nonfiction cleverly disguised as a story, a boy and his grandmother are digging in the garden when they come across a worm. This leads grandma to tell her grandson all about how important worms are in the ecosystem, and what they do to enrich the soil and help plants grow. I learned a lot! Now I know how to tell if a worm is an adult. I must try the trick of watering the ground to get the worms to come out, and then stomping my foot to see them disappear. I just love this book! I'm sure kids will too. Who knew you could have fun with a worm? Recommended!
April 27, 2015
Yucky Worms is about a little boy being disgusted when he finds a worm in his grandmother's garden. Grandma teaches him all about worms and how they help keep a garden healthy he decides the worms are his friends, too.
This was a great read for us as we've recently begun gardening and my boys like to "help" as much as they can. Yucky Worms was an informative sciency kind of book so a little bit over my littles' heads but still it was well illustrated and interesting.
This was a great read for us as we've recently begun gardening and my boys like to "help" as much as they can. Yucky Worms was an informative sciency kind of book so a little bit over my littles' heads but still it was well illustrated and interesting.
July 8, 2017
This is a fabulously informative book on one of my favorite outside critters, but I’m left wondering if there will be a volume 2 on the subject. Do worms sleep? Do worms mate for life? Do worms talk to eat other, “hey, the dirt over that away is sweet- check it out, bra.” And what is in lobster casings anyhow? I realize, that may hav slid off topic but, do you know?
Want to Read
May 18, 2010Since i'm a gardner and dig in the dirt a lot I come across these "yucky worms" ALL the time. I get scared and grossed out each time I dig in!!! This book will be such a help to me - I can't wait to "dig in" to this book!!!!
Read
February 4, 2015Mama read this to me after my nap today. It was a little too factual for me - I got fussy 2/3 of the way through. I bet I'll love it when I'm older.
February 20, 2018
This is such a fun book it’s one of my favourites from the Nature Storybooks I’ve so far read! ‘Yucky Worms’ is a great picture book, shorter than A4 in height but wider, it’s filled with thick glossy pages with colourful illustrations and easy to read text throughout. ‘Yucky Worms’ is a great title to the book as it’s what many people think of when they think of worms, however this book, a non-fiction, will definitely change your mind and maybe even fascinate both kids and adults to find out more about these amazing little creatures!
The book is told from the point of view of the young boy who is spending the day with his Gran while she tends to the garden. When she digs up a worm he’s disgusted at first but then his Gran starts to explain just how great these creatures are. Although it sounds a little like a fiction story it’s a non-fiction book and there are a lot of worm facts explained in a really fun way. Something about the ‘story’ aspect of the book just seems to work and makes it easier and more engaging to learn about worms.
Some of the facts you learn about the worms include what they look like, how you can tell the front end from the back and how adults differ from young worms. You also learn about what they eat, how they travel and even how to bring worms to the surface by tricking them and why they come to the surface when it rains. I was really fascinated by some of the facts, especially the brief inner biology of worms and how they have bristles – something I never knew! Every fact is introduced slowly and in a very fun way that it makes them all easy to understand and remember and it makes you really feel and respect worms all the more after reading it.
The illustrations really made me love this book even more. Not only are they clear and fun but there are also lots of little extras going on in each picture and the best part of all the illustrations is the fact they are quite funny with little speech bubbles and comments made by the worms and other insects. There’s something about funny pictures that makes them more fun to read and I can see kids really enjoying looking over this book again and again and spotting all the extra things in the pictures like extra worms, insects, toys and cats. It makes each picture more interesting and fun and I’ve always felt that books with extra things to see in the picture make it great fun to re-read.
At the back of the book there is a page on how to be a wormologist, for any kids who might be really excited to study them further. They are simple things to do such as how to find worms and how to handle and observe them once you’ve found them. The last page of the book contains notes to parents and teachers on how to use the book with kids. I feel it’s worth mentioning that all the Nature Storybooks, this one included, support Key Stage 1-2 of English and Science making this a great book to get both for kids at home and for the classroom.
As a picture book I would really recommend this for all kids. What I love is how at the end kids are taught to be respectful when seeing and handling worms. I remember when I was at school as a kid myself, there were some young kids who treated worms like a play-thing and were quite cruel in the way they handled them. But with this book it can really change your perspective and although I always knew worms are good for your garden, I never knew just how good or how amazing these little creatures are!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
The book is told from the point of view of the young boy who is spending the day with his Gran while she tends to the garden. When she digs up a worm he’s disgusted at first but then his Gran starts to explain just how great these creatures are. Although it sounds a little like a fiction story it’s a non-fiction book and there are a lot of worm facts explained in a really fun way. Something about the ‘story’ aspect of the book just seems to work and makes it easier and more engaging to learn about worms.
Some of the facts you learn about the worms include what they look like, how you can tell the front end from the back and how adults differ from young worms. You also learn about what they eat, how they travel and even how to bring worms to the surface by tricking them and why they come to the surface when it rains. I was really fascinated by some of the facts, especially the brief inner biology of worms and how they have bristles – something I never knew! Every fact is introduced slowly and in a very fun way that it makes them all easy to understand and remember and it makes you really feel and respect worms all the more after reading it.
The illustrations really made me love this book even more. Not only are they clear and fun but there are also lots of little extras going on in each picture and the best part of all the illustrations is the fact they are quite funny with little speech bubbles and comments made by the worms and other insects. There’s something about funny pictures that makes them more fun to read and I can see kids really enjoying looking over this book again and again and spotting all the extra things in the pictures like extra worms, insects, toys and cats. It makes each picture more interesting and fun and I’ve always felt that books with extra things to see in the picture make it great fun to re-read.
At the back of the book there is a page on how to be a wormologist, for any kids who might be really excited to study them further. They are simple things to do such as how to find worms and how to handle and observe them once you’ve found them. The last page of the book contains notes to parents and teachers on how to use the book with kids. I feel it’s worth mentioning that all the Nature Storybooks, this one included, support Key Stage 1-2 of English and Science making this a great book to get both for kids at home and for the classroom.
As a picture book I would really recommend this for all kids. What I love is how at the end kids are taught to be respectful when seeing and handling worms. I remember when I was at school as a kid myself, there were some young kids who treated worms like a play-thing and were quite cruel in the way they handled them. But with this book it can really change your perspective and although I always knew worms are good for your garden, I never knew just how good or how amazing these little creatures are!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
December 30, 2017
Yucky Worms? I think not! This book deserves every one of those five stars. It is beautifully illustrated which is perfectly engaging for young readers, but more so than that it was informative in such a way that it doesn't feel like learning - it's all part of the story. Actually, I learnt quite a lot about worms too!
We learn about worms, what they eat, what they're made of inside and what they do all day from this clever picture book through the eyes of a little boy helping his grandma in the garden (you might also spot her nosy cat if you look hard enough). The dialogue of this story is informative in itself, but fun worm facts are sprinkled across the pages as well or in tiny speech bubbles from the worms which was a nice touch.
The back of the book also contains a sort of fact sheet for children wanting to get closer to nature whilst still being mindful of worms and how to respectfully handle or watch them - a really important addition which I loved.
I can't recommend this book enough; you can also find it as part of a collection of nature stories of the same format in the "Nature Storybooks" ten piece collection.
ARC provided free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
We learn about worms, what they eat, what they're made of inside and what they do all day from this clever picture book through the eyes of a little boy helping his grandma in the garden (you might also spot her nosy cat if you look hard enough). The dialogue of this story is informative in itself, but fun worm facts are sprinkled across the pages as well or in tiny speech bubbles from the worms which was a nice touch.
The back of the book also contains a sort of fact sheet for children wanting to get closer to nature whilst still being mindful of worms and how to respectfully handle or watch them - a really important addition which I loved.
I can't recommend this book enough; you can also find it as part of a collection of nature stories of the same format in the "Nature Storybooks" ten piece collection.
ARC provided free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 20, 2023This book is about a boy who spends a day with his grandmother. When he sees a worm at first, he is grossed out! Then, his grandma teaches him all about worms and all that they add and bring to our world! I think many children can relate to being grossed out by worms, and I love how this book teaches us about worms--which makes them less gross! There are sidebars with fun facts throughout the book, and the end has tips on being a “wormologist” as well as an index on what pages throughout the book to find specific information about worms. This book is super fun, and super educational! It also encourages kids to go out and be curious in their own backyard!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2018
The Miaolings enjoyed learning about worms and how important their pooping and tunneling is for garden ecology. The most surprising thing we learned is that worms cannot survive if cut in half. Apparently they can survive if their tail is cut off but that is much less than half of them. This book teaches us that worms are our friends and aren't yucky at all, but my Miaolings know that there is nothing wrong with being yucky, especially if you are cute and/or enrich the soil with your digestive activities.
April 15, 2018
This was recommended by a friend and Miss 3 loved it. I've only just realized that it's the same author as 'The Perfect Pet Shop' which we've also been reading so I shall look for more of her books.
It's a picture book with a Grandma-Grandson story but it's factual as well. It did indeed help Miss 3 become less scared of yucky worms and she was very excited when she called out 'Poo! Poo in my hands!!' to show me the perfect worm casting which she found.
It's a picture book with a Grandma-Grandson story but it's factual as well. It did indeed help Miss 3 become less scared of yucky worms and she was very excited when she called out 'Poo! Poo in my hands!!' to show me the perfect worm casting which she found.
October 8, 2023
Genre: Informational
Grade Level: K - 3rd
This is a great children's book all about worms. I love how the author told a story about worms, while also putting facts about worms on the page surrounding the pictures. This book would be great to read to children when worms are starting to come out and be more visible to help them like worms a little more.
Grade Level: K - 3rd
This is a great children's book all about worms. I love how the author told a story about worms, while also putting facts about worms on the page surrounding the pictures. This book would be great to read to children when worms are starting to come out and be more visible to help them like worms a little more.
March 13, 2018
This is a sweet, fun book, with lots of information incorporated into the story. I did alter some of the terminology as I read aloud, just because I have a pet peeve about the usage of slang for bodily waste appearing in my books. We've always preferred to use more polite language. 😄
January 31, 2019
Just shy of didactic but with terrific illustrations and a sweet relationship between grandma and grandson. Clever integration of sidebar material - one wonderful spread has the informative text following the many underground worm tunnels. So much info in one sweet little book.
October 1, 2020
Fun and informative book about worms, and a boy who initially thinks they’re yucky but then learns how important and helpful they are. Great book for getting children outside and exploring the busy world of tiny critters. Love the idea that worms are ‘underground farmers’.
November 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, I love the detailed pictures as well as the labeling on the scientific parts of it. I think it's a really great way to introduce and interest your students in science and I would highly recommend this book if you have kiddos who are interested in science.
June 14, 2018
A beautifully illustrated picture book with a plethora of facts about worms.
January 8, 2019
REALLY cute and humorous with great illustrations!
February 13, 2019
Super. Really informative and fun to read
February 23, 2019
I loved that his grandma was super cool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews