Worm Loves Worm

How do you explain a revolution to a young audience? This book is a terrific start. Worm and Worm are in love and want to get married. All of their invertebrate friends are good with that, as long as the couple has a traditional wedding with all the trimmings: a cake, attendants, dancing, rings, and an officiant (a suitably officious cricket). The worms are slightly dazed but grateful for their friends' enthusiasm, and they even realize that, lacking fingers, they can wear the rings as belts. Then their friends make one more demand: there can only be one bride and one groom: that's "how it's always been done." And that's when the worms show they have a spine. "We can be both," they insist, mixing and matching veils, tuxes, dresses, and top hats. "We'll just change how it's done." Debut author Austrian proves that it's possible to be silly and incisive at the same time, while Curato (the Little Elliot books) works in a stripped-down style that subtly reinforces the "all you need is love" message. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 2--In addition to sharing a first name, Worm and Worm love each other and decide to get married. Their friends have several ideas about what the wedding needs: someone to perform the service, a best beetle, bride's bees, rings, a band, cake, and outfits. When the best beetle and bride's bees start fretting about who is the bride and who is the groom, both worms declare that they are willing to be the bride and the groom. Cricket the officiant declares that's not how it's done, but Worm and Worm decide to change tradition and are happily married. With a white backdrop to each page, Curato's pencil and Photoshop illustrations convey the emotions each creature feels as it makes elaborate plans for the wedding. The story is nicely paced and can be a great way to introduce children to what might happen at a wedding. Most important, though, are the subtle yet effective messages of what's important when two individuals decide to wed. VERDICT With its cute critters, sweet story, and messages of equality, this is a first purchase that celebrates the fact that love always wins.--Liz Anderson, D.C. Public Library