cover image They Didn’t Teach This in Worm School!

They Didn’t Teach This in Worm School!

Simone Lia. Candlewick, $14.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-7636-9536-1

After nearly ending up as a bird’s breakfast, a worm named Marcus agrees to be the bird’s navigator, helping him fly from England to Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya. Marcus and Laurence quickly get turned around, leading them to mistake an electrical tower for a more notable landmark (“At the top there were tight wires that connected it to... other Eiffel Towers”), and get captured by a hungry mole, among other mishaps. Lia’s chunky cartoon spot illustrations add to the ample humor of this friendship-focused story, as she lets readers revel in knowing what these two bumbling buddies don’t. “Marcus, it’s like we’re living in a movie that is full of funny coincidences,” reflects Laurence in a zoo they believe to be Kenya. “This is such a great movie.” Ages 7–9. (Feb.)