I Can Only Draw Worms

by Will Mabbitt

This book is about worms. I can only draw worms.

You might think worms are boring - but you'd be wrong. These worms have INCREDIBLE adventures!

I can't draw those bits, though, so you'll have to imagine them.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Counting, Childrens, Storytime, Animals, Art

32 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of a one-joke book where you only really have to read the title, but that's why I read it and it made me smile throughout. This makes a bit of fun of the picture book format, and the learn-your-numbers-through-meaningful-connections-to babies picture book in particular. (Worm #3 is yellow, for no reason except he lost his pink pen; with worm #6 we are promised an exciting adventure, but turnt the page and he decides to just skip all that). It's just fun for everyone, and super bright!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person who can only draw worms, I loved this book! You will only find worms in it, of course, and most of the time they all look the same, as the worms I draw look, but it has lots of humor. It also allows the reader to do some counting, and use his/her imagination a lot.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE beautifully illustrated picture books. Actually I am kind of an addict to them. But this book also proves how you can make an amazing picture book with only simple, basic, bare illustrations too.

Age range: 3 to 7 years old.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about worms because Will Mabbitt can only draw worms, it says so in the title.
He can't draw flying unicorns and he's not good at depicting adventures in outer space but he can draw a variety of worms, like Worm 2 who wears glasses and Worm 3 who is a different color.

While this isn't a very factual account of worms - except for Worm 8's story - it is delightfully entertaining.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 stars. This children's picture book is hilarious! Glad that this book is the one that officially ends my 2019 Reading Challenge!

[Flor Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque (quiero suponer) es un libro para que los peques aprendan a contar en inglés, I Can Only Draw Worms me hizo morir de la risa muchas veces aún teniendo unas... ¿qué, 35 páginas?
El autor te avisa desde el vamos que sólo puede dibujar gusanos (lombrices queda mejor nosierto), pero son gusanos con anteojos, que van al baño, que buscan a una lombriz perdida y que montan un unicornio (pero el autor nos dibuja a una de las lombrices porque, de nuevo, es lo único que puede dibujar).
Muy bueno. Qué lindo ser adulta (ponele) y poder disfrutar de estos libros.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book was the highlight of my younger children’s reading week. It’s so simple, but too funny! My kids kept re-reading it — even trying to tell the worms apart (counting lines in their bodies, etc.). So although it is touted as a counting book, it’s served as the point of great discussion in the Miller family. I mean, could worms wear glasses? And if you cut one in half, does it really become two worms or only two half-worms? In black, white, yellow, and hot pink, author and illustrator Will Mabbitt has captured the joy and laughter of my children.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contrasting saturated colors walk young readers through the book's author/illustrator drawing the one thing he can: worms. Pretty silly stuff!!!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give this book more than 5 stars. This book needs to be read cover to cover then re-read again and again. Read it aloud, read with gusto and share with everyone. It is hilarious. Rest assured there is no offensive material - we're not talking about 'those' worms. Each of these worms is quite unique ... or are they? Pay attention from the beginning for Will is quite explicit about the details of each worm and you will be caught out if you let your concentration lapse.

Will Babbitt parodies the picture book format, counting books and pretty well just pokes fun at himself. The illustrations are ridiculously bright ... we're talking fluorescent. I'm sure this book will glow in the dark. Please read the dedication page that is at the end of the book and the endorsements on the back cover. Will return this book with great reluctance to the library ... only after the copy I have bought arrives. This one is for the big kids who enjoy dry humour.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and witty counting book for children that made me laugh several times.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this in the library on the shelves of returned books and it caught my attention, because of the title. I wanted to know what the deal was with this title and decided to go through it. This book has my kind of humor, so I loved it.

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was entertained. Very bright and colorful. The 3-5 set will probably enjoy it!

I, too, can only draw worms, more or less.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book is about worms. I can only draw worms."

I spotted this book, and with that tag line I just couldn't resist bringing it with me from the library. Even my boyfriend had lots of fun when I read this one to him.

The author/artist can only draw worms, and the proof is clear in this one. We see our illustrator introduce us to various worms, and sometimes he doesn't even know if a worm is number x or not. :P Not to mention what happens when an unicorn pops up in the story.

Yep, you are in for some hilarious, silly story about worms! We are going to space, we learn that cutting up a worm isn't that good, one worm is lost, and more!

The art is pretty simple, but I didn't mind, that illustrator sure is good at drawing worms. :P

All in all, this is one book I would recommend. You will laugh yourself silly.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book thanks to a Facebook competition run by In The Good Books blog page. I found this book quirky and amusing as I read it to my daughter. She loves trying to grab it and read to me and the bright colours help engage her. The introduction of the ten worms is funny and amusing.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many giggles!

Themes: counting, worms

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA my kid loved this one.

[Jan Polep · Rating 5 out of 5]

This works on so many levels...counting, coloring, joking around. It absolutely shouts out for a coloring contest for any age readers.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw I Can Only Draw Worms on NetGalley I knew I had to read it, as someone who can't draw, and when I do its the request to draw a car for a baby, I had to know what this book was about.

I Can Only Draw Worms is a counting book as well as a book that makes you laugh out loud with some disastrous attempts at drawing worms, or losing them to the same colour page, and mistaking worm one with worm three, and lets not forget worm eight and eight-and-a-half.
With worms wearing glasses, and riding flying unicorns.....


there is not a single page that you can get through without cracking a smile.

My only issue with the book itself is the formatting, which did disrupt the flow of the book on occasion, either with the writing or with the images themselves.

Final Verdict
I Can Only Draw Worms is a funny, quick book, and I can't wait to share it with my Niece.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

The simple illustrations and layout of this book belie its impact. Much like Novak's "Book With No Pictures", there are layers of humor and subtlety that makes the book more than a sum of its part. This is one that is really fun to read multiple times -- I have field tested it on my three-year-old grandson. Not only that, but multiple adults have read it aloud with said grandson and also enjoyed it. So much more than a counting book, this will be a favorite on your bookshelf. Congratulations on being nominated for the 2020 Building Blocks Award! -Review by Darla from Red Bridge

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous picture book similar to The Book with No Pictures, but is more visual and contains somewhat more of a story line. Incorporates counting from one to ten, and includes eight and a half in a clever way. Simple digital illustrations use a neon color palette. Good for introducing fractions between whole numbers. Could also be used as a writing prompt to create a story around one simple thing.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is clever, but not as clever as Mabbitt seems to think it is. It is basically just a counting book, but it is a counting book that counts wrong! If you have seven worms and then half a worm and then the rest of that worm, that is not 7, 8, 8 and a half. It is 7, 7 and a half, 8. This bothers me probably more than it should.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this! Not only is it a cute story, but it makes for a great, clever counting book. This is something that a parent could enjoy instead of the usual 1-2-3 picture books. It would certainly make for a great storytime read (and I can think of craft storytime ideas as well!).

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute!

[Maxwell Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun interactive book. Big thanks to Dolly Parton to sending me a copy of this book for free as part of her Imagination Library - a monthly book mail-out.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute and kooky, love how graphic it is

[Brandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! Can I just say that I love when my department passes around cute kids' books and we all take turns reading them? So much fun!

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud for elementary age kiddos.

[✨Arline✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made us lol! Super cute. 😂

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun kids book with lots of laughs... and worm's

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 - 5 years,

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking the fourth wall, the narrator tells a story using worms, which are the only thing he can draw.

This book also teaches counting up 1-to-10.