The worm book: Nature's recycler by Karen Tayleur & Guy Holt

Young readers will be in for a treat when they open the pages of this visually appealing factual book. The stunning photographs of different types of worms, their poo and cocoons, other creatures as well as labelled diagrams, will engage and entertain those reading. At the beginning of the book is a contents page with an important introduction to worms asking the question: What animal has no bones but can move, has no lungs but can breathe and has no eyes but can see?

Each of the main types of worms: segmented, ribbon, roundworms and flatworms are discussed in detail with easily accessible text surrounded by plenty of white space, plus labelled photographs and diagrams. New or more difficult words are emphasised in bold font and with their meanings found in the glossary at the end. Throughout the book are interesting facts and the chapter, Weird and Wonderful, contains quick snippets such as ‘Worms and dinosaurs lived in the same period. While dinosaurs went extinct around 230 million years ago, worms are still with us!’ There is a valuable chapter on composting complete with a simple compost life cycle followed by information about making your own worm farm. On the final page is a handy index.

This book will be a fabulous resource for teachers and students in the areas of Science especially when looking at composting and animal behaviour.

Themes: Worms, Recycling, Facts, Composting.

Kathryn Beilby