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EAR WORM! by Jo Knowles

EAR WORM!

by Jo Knowles ; illustrated by Galia Bernstein

Pub Date: Jan. 11th, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0783-5
Publisher: Candlewick

A bouncy primer to a confusing colloquialism for youngsters.

Little Worm has a song stuck in his head. It’s a catchy tune (as all ear worms are): “shimmy, / no-sashay, // shimmy, no-sashay!” The pint-sized wiggler bops and dances all the way to Owl. “Did you put this song in my head?” he demands. Owl, however, is singing his own song (complete with TikTok-worthy dance moves): “WAVE, WAVE, / TALK TO THE WING!” Owl and Little Worm set off to find more clues as to where Little Worm’s song began. They meet up with Chipmunk and Bunny, both of whom also have songs that they can’t stop singing. But when the friends run into Fox, Fox’s song hints at possible peril: “Rah-Rah, / Trot to me! / Rah-Rah, / Trot to me!” Luckily, the mystery is solved without any worms (or others) being gobbled. Knowles’ picture-book debut, a merry cumulative tale, is sure to add pep to any storytime. The easy repetition invites listeners to join in. Bounding along with the spring of the text, Bernstein’s joyful and expressive woodland creatures, amid copious white space against uncluttered backgrounds, have a rhythm all their own. They twirl and thump in grand sweeping motions.

A rollicking read with a gentle bedtime closing.

(Picture book. 3-6)