Carl and the Meaning of Life

by Deborah Freedman

Overview

From the often Caldecott-buzzed Deborah Freedman, a sweet and funny story about finding your place in the world.

Carl is an earthworm. He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short: "Why?" Carl's quest takes him on an adventure to meet all the animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do, unlike the curious Carl. But it's not until the world around him has changed that Carl begins to realize everyone, no matter how small, makes a big difference just by being themselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780451474988
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Deborah Freedman (deborahfreedman.net) is a trained architect who now works as an author/illustrator. She is the author of This House, Once, Shy, By Mouse and Frog, The Story of Fish and Snail, Blue Chicken, and Scribble.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Her simple storytelling is supported by fabulous illustrations. . . will help youngsters understand the wonder and interconnectedness of nature." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A must-have in all collections!" —School Library Connection, starred review

★ "A poignant example of the important contributions of even the smallest creature.” —School Library Journal, starred review

"A pleasant, simplified examination of the significance of the lowly earthworm, just in time for garden encounters." —Kirkus Reviews

"Inviting readers to think about howthey, like the indomitable Carl, 'help the earth.'" —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

2019-01-28

Earthworm Carl works busily underground, burrowing, eating, and depositing soil-enriching castings—until a field mouse asks, "Why?"

Carl suspends his usual activities to find out, querying a rabbit, fox, squirrel, and many others until, over time, these very creatures are compelled to travel away for sustenance. When a ground beetle despairs, "I can't find any grubs!" Carl realizes that the soil he has neglected has become hard-packed dirt. Suddenly, his purpose is clear. "For hours into days, weeks into months, Carl munched, digested, left castings, and tunneled…and turned that hard dirt back into rich soil." The returning animals appreciate the results: sprouting seeds, blossoming clover, and an integrated ecosystem made possible by earthworms like Carl. Freedman's digitally assembled watercolors feature washes of green, yellow, ocher, and brown. She augments her speaking cast of woodland animals with additional small creatures for children to discover. A brief but pithy author's note celebrates the interconnectedness of all creatures, including the reader. A quote from Darwin on the importance of the earthworm completes the package.

A pleasant, simplified examination of the significance of the lowly earthworm, just in time for garden encounters. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews