An earthworm has no eyes, no ears, no lungs and no legs, and it still runs the ground under your feet. It breathes through its skin, senses light with cells scattered along its body, grips the tunnel wall with rows of tiny bristles, and eats its way forward — soil in the front, soil out the back, richer than it went in. Charles Darwin spent decades on them and published an entire book about worms the year before he died, and to nearly everyone's surprise it sold faster in its first weeks than On the Origin of Species had. Grown-ups have been rediscovering worms ever since. Six-year-olds never needed convincing: they will pick one up after a rainstorm, name it, and want to know which end is the face.
Drawing from Bookroo's collection of 69 worm books, our editors picked fourteen worth reading more than once: the diary that turned a worm into a household name, the two best backyard nonfiction titles for a garden unit, a Geisel-honored early reader about a friend who comes back with wings, a garden built entirely out of rolled paper, a chapter book about accidentally cornering the fertilizer market, and the 1973 bet that has been grossing out third-graders for half a century. Start with the shortlist, then browse the full collection by age — board books for toddlers who want to dig, picture books for read-alouds and classroom science, and chapter books and early readers for kids reading on their own.
One worm's diary: no bath ever, homework you are allowed to eat, and the hokey pokey permanently out of reach.
Fifteen worms in fifteen days for fifty dollars. Billy shakes on the bet before he thinks it over.
Grandma turns over one spadeful of garden, and the argument about whether worms are yucky begins.
A field mouse asks Carl the earthworm why he tunnels. Nobody has ever asked, and Carl stops to find out.
Toad in trouble? Beetle in a jam? Superworm is long, strong, and already on his way.
Dismissed as "just a worm" by two passing children, Worm sets off across the garden to gather evidence to the contrary.
Tiger is big. Tiger is brave. Tiger is afraid of exactly one thing, and four of them are under the log.
Worm and Caterpillar are alike in every way — until Caterpillar vanishes for a while and comes back with wings.
Slimy, muscular, 120 million years old, and occasionally living inside somebody else. Elise Gravel makes the case.
An underground tour of the earthworm, with a look inside at the brain, the crop, the gizzard and the rest.
How do you say hello to a worm? Gently, and from very close to the ground.
Loosening the soil, pulling leaves down into it, and leaving the garden better fed than they found it.
Three short comics in which Worm is patient, Snail is wrong about nearly everything, and both are perfectly happy.
A neighbor drops off a bin of red wigglers, and a roadside produce stand accidentally becomes a fertilizer business.
Digging in the dirt, rain puddles, first garden words, and one very famous worm in an apple car — for ages 0–4.
Explore vibrant scenes and discover 200 words in this engaging toddler adventure.
Discover how wiggly worms are nature's unsung heroes underground.
Discover the hidden world of insects with interactive fun.
Discover the magic of grandpa's world and the special bond shared.
A black bird's journey reveals a world of vibrant colors.
Soil science, compost, garden jobs, worm-phobia cures, and a great deal of wriggling — read-alouds for ages 3–8.
A worm's quest to make a sandwich leads to a composting adventure.
A boy and his robot must stop an alien invasion from Neptune
Discover nature's wonders through a child's eyes, from city streets to country meadows.
Uncover the vital role of earthworms in soil health.
Join Lowly Worm on a bustling day full of discovery and fun.
Two worms fall in love and marry, defying traditional roles. Love is love.
A worm seeks the source of a catchy tune stuck in his head.
Owly and Wormy await butterflies, but unexpected green bugs arrive. Will their dreams take flight?
Count worms in a laugh-out-loud, colorful adventure.
Join Snail and Worm on three whimsical adventures full of humor and discovery.
Can a worm family take the perfect portrait without smiles or hair?
Two friends face mysterious sounds and obstacles on a stargazing adventure. Will bravery lead them to new discoveries?
Comics friendships, gross-out dares, worm-farming schemes, and silkworm science, for readers ages 5–12.
A lonely owl named Owly befriends a worm and together they have many adventures.
A magical worm erases words, altering reality. Can Lerner change her fate?
A cranky chicken befriends a worm and learns to appreciate the value of friendship and companionship.
A young owl and his worm friend try to make friends with a flying squirrel they saw at night.
A boy discovers a mysterious notebook that helps him battle monsters in his town.
A young owl and his worm friend try to help a family of bluebirds by building them a new home.
A worm and a chicken embark on a wild journey to find flamingos.
A young child plays a game of tag with friends, goes on an adventure, and loses a pet.
Can Julia and Patrick's silkworm project win at the state fair despite cultural challenges and unexpected obstacles?
A sleepy bird faces a slimy forest adventure that could change his luck forever.
Todd's worm obsession turns creepy when they invade his life.
A worm's fib about a time machine spirals into chaos. Can he make it real?
