Worm Loves Worm

by J. J. Austrian, Mike Curato (Illustrator)

Overview

One of Time Out's “LGBTQ+ books for kids to read during Pride Month,” this irresistible picture book is a celebration of love in all its splendid forms from debut author J. J. Austrian and the acclaimed author-illustrator of Little Elliot, Big City, Mike Curato.

You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of a worm...and a worm.

When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next: They get married! But their friends want to know—who will wear the dress? And who will wear the tux?

The answer is: It doesn't matter. Because worm loves worm.

Perfect for fans of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, And Tango Makes Three, and The Sissy Duckling.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062386335
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/05/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mike Curato is also the creator of the popular Little Elliot series. He and his husband, Dan, were married in a very wormy wedding. They live in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

…brilliantly explores the idea of love between two beings, regardless of gender (or species) and despite societal pressures. Curato's spare but sure silhouetted images and Austrian's straightforward text are a perfect match to deliver the simple story of two characters who just want to declare their love and commit to each other.

The New York Times Book Review - Dan Yaccarino

★ 10/05/2015
How do you explain a revolution to a young audience? This book is a terrific start. Worm and Worm are in love and want to get married. All of their invertebrate friends are good with that, as long as the couple has a traditional wedding with all the trimmings: a cake, attendants, dancing, rings, and an officiant (a suitably officious cricket). The worms are slightly dazed but grateful for their friends’ enthusiasm, and they even realize that, lacking fingers, they can wear the rings as belts. Then their friends make one more demand: there can only be one bride and one groom: that’s “how it’s always been done.” And that’s when the worms show they have a spine. “We can be both,” they insist, mixing and matching veils, tuxes, dresses, and top hats. “We’ll just change how it’s done.” Debut author Austrian proves that it’s possible to be silly and incisive at the same time, while Curato (the Little Elliot books) works in a stripped-down style that subtly reinforces the “all you need is love” message. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Austrian and Curato turn the simple wedding of two worms into a three-ring circus that slyly turns the whole controversy over same-sex versus heterosexual marriage on its head…As in life, love conquers all.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“How do you explain a revolution to a young audience? This book is a terrific start.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With its cute critters, sweet story, and messages of equality, this is a first purchase that celebrates the fact that love always wins.” — School Library Journal

“A witty and playful story...Adults looking for some assistance in explaining marriage equality will find this a concise and useful too.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

A witty and playful story...Adults looking for some assistance in explaining marriage equality will find this a concise and useful too.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A witty and playful story...Adults looking for some assistance in explaining marriage equality will find this a concise and useful too.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

11/01/2015
PreS-Gr 2—In addition to sharing a first name, Worm and Worm love each other and decide to get married. Their friends have several ideas about what the wedding needs: someone to perform the service, a best beetle, bride's bees, rings, a band, cake, and outfits. When the best beetle and bride's bees start fretting about who is the bride and who is the groom, both worms declare that they are willing to be the bride and the groom. Cricket the officiant declares that's not how it's done, but Worm and Worm decide to change tradition and are happily married. With a white backdrop to each page, Curato's pencil and Photoshop illustrations convey the emotions each creature feels as it makes elaborate plans for the wedding. The story is nicely paced and can be a great way to introduce children to what might happen at a wedding. Most important, though, are the subtle yet effective messages of what's important when two individuals decide to wed. VERDICT With its cute critters, sweet story, and messages of equality, this is a first purchase that celebrates the fact that love always wins.—Liz Anderson, D.C. Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2015-09-21
Austrian and Curato turn the simple wedding of two worms into a three-ring circus that slyly turns the whole controversy over same-sex versus heterosexual marriage on its head. "Worm loves Worm. ‘Let's be married,' says Worm to Worm. ‘Yes!' answers Worm. ‘Let's be married.' " Seems simple to the two worms but not to the other woodland critters. Cricket insists on officiating. "That's how it's always been done" is his oft-repeated refrain. Beetle wants to be the best beetle, the Bees want to be the bride's bees, the worms must wear rings, and they need a band to dance to, flowers, and a cake. The intendeds solve all these issues as well as the question of who's the bride, who's the groom. " ‘I can be the bride,' says Worm. ‘I can, too,' says Worm." They both are also the groom. One wears a veil, bow tie, gold ring, and black trousers; the other sports a top hat, gold ring, and flouncy white skirt. The wedding party is in awe, save uptight Cricket. " ‘We'll just change how it's done,' says Worm." And so they do, and they are married at last..."because Worm loves Worm." Curato's pencil-and-Photoshop illustrations use white backgrounds to great effect, keeping the characters front and center. The two worms are differentiated only by their eyes: one has black dots, and the other has white around the black dots. As in life, love conquers all. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews