The Greedy Worm

by Jeff Newman (Author) Jeff Newman (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

From celebrated illustrator Jeff Newman comes a delightfully funny wordless picture book about a very greedy worm, a very large apple, and the importance of sharing with friends.

The greedy worm has his eye on a very big apple and he does NOT want to share with any of the other hungry bugs. In fact he eats the whole thing himself in one giant chomp to keep them away. But when a bird starts eyeing the now plump (and sluggish) greedy worm, he'll need those bugs he snubbed to keep the feaster from becoming the feast. And he might just learn a thing or two about sharing in the process . . .

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$18.99

Kirkus

It’s a fun (almost) wordless story that relies on its graphically bold, doodlelike illustrations to put as much energy and emotions into the bugs as possible.

ALA/Booklist

Grades K-2. The narrative consists of just three different words—“Crunch,” “Chomp,” and “Thump!”—but even younger audiences are unlikely to need help following to the sweet and crunchy conclusion.

Publishers Weekly

When a large red apple falls onto the field above its underground home ("THUMP!"), a pink worm envisions an equally large apple pie that it can have all to itself. But as community-minded bugs approach, each dreaming of a portion, the worm inhales the entire apple ("CHOMP!"), reducing the fruit to its tall, skinny core. Deserted by the devastated insects, the now circular worm is easy pickings for a salivating brown bird that's even bigger than the apple. When the other insects come to the rescue, delivering a decisive bite to the bird's tail ("CRUNCH") that sends it packing, the worm makes amends by planting the apple core's seeds, ensuring there will be plenty of apples to go around--eventually. Digital artwork by Newman (Found) has the bold, bright fill-in colors and idiosyncratic detail (all the characters sport jaunty hats) that brings to mind birthday party caricatures; the story seems to be taking shape before readers' eyes. The combination of savory onomatopoeia and eye-popping visual treatment makes a familiar story feel fresh and tasty. Ages 4-8. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Feb.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Jeff Newman
Jeff Newman grew up in Ashland, Massachusetts, and attended The Art Institute of Boston. His picture books include Hippo! No, Rhino; The Boys; Hand Book; The Greedy Worm; and Found. He currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781442471955
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
February 28, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002140 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Insects, Spiders, etc.
JUV039000 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | General
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Worms
Sharing

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