WORM MAKES A SANDWICH

A worm explains composting.

Worm sets out to make a sandwich for readers. But, as our protagonist points out, “worms don’t have hands!” Luckily, a red-headed, light-skinned, ruddy-cheeked young gardener’s on hand to assist. With self-deprecating charm, Worm describes the nuts and bolts of composting. Enter Worm’s favorite food: garbage, but “just things from plants.” After eating, Worm makes “delicious, nutritious poop,” which becomes healthy dirt for the seeds that will grow the plants for the sandwich. Worm reminds readers that garbage, poop, and dirt are “not for your sandwich,” while the seed, which will become a plant, will be “sort of…eventually.” Farley effectively builds anticipation for the ultimate denouement, though impatient Worm’s mettle is tested: “Why is this sandwich taking so long?…Where did I go wrong?…I’m so little…Maybe I can’t make a sandwich.” A lush spread follows, with a worm’s-eye view of a pendulous tomato surrounded by yummy-looking greens. The young gardener, who assembles and eats the sandwich, provides leftovers—garbage to eat!—and the cycle begins anew for Worm. Farley’s humorous illustrations include spot art, underground cutaways filled with comical, garbage-eating critters (who occasionally offer commentary), labels for various items, and magnified images of microbes and soil.

A funny and clever process story.