How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside

by Kari Percival

Say hello to worms, dirt, peas, and more in this gentle how-to guide for connecting with nature.

The beautiful simplicity of a garden is depicted through digital woodcut illustrations and engaging nonfiction text presented as a series of sweet questions and gentle replies. Less of a traditional how-to and more of a how-to-appreciate, this soothingly sparse text paints an inviting and accessible picture of what a garden offers. And with an all-child cast, the absence of an adult presence empowers readers to view the garden and its creatures through their own eyes, driven by curiosity and wonder.

This delightful book embodies the magic of gardening and encourages all readers, from those who LOVE the outdoors to those with hesitation, to interact with nature at their own, comfortable pace.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Storytime, Gardening, Childrens, Nonfiction, Plants

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2022

About the author

While studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago illustration class that met at the zoo, Kari Percival loved drawing seals and puffins from her native home of Maine, and at Antioch New England Graduate School where she studied environmental science and teaching, she loved her tree communities class that met on the side of a mountain. While teaching science in public school, she most loved bringing her students outdoors to study nature nearby.

In her books for young people, she seeks to share her love of learning outdoors and to inspire readers young and old to connect with the ecology where they live. Percival’s illustrations are inspired by the wood-cut relief printmaking she also loves to do.

Kari Percival's debut picture book on gardening for toddlers, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM, published by Rise x Penguin Workshop, won an Ezra Jack Keats Award for Writer, CLEL Bell award, ALA Notable, Blue Grass Award Nominee, and was selected for Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Her newest release, SAFE CROSSING, from Chronicle Kids, has been honored as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and BookPage. She lives outside Boston where she also loves to pick raspberries barefoot.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a happy book, as in everything about it, from the idea to the text to the illustrations, exudes joy.

A perfect story for young first-time gardeners to welcome spring, to illustrate how food grows, and to celebrate dirt, nature, and community.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute, love the encouragement to have family planting!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs more worms.

[Aolund]

A very cute introduction to the garden and how to act respectfully towards plants and animals while also having fun! I really enjoyed this book and would love to use in a garden storytime.

Themes: Garden, Nature, Worm/Bee
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely! So fun! So beautifully illustrated! This is a winning picture book to introduce kids to planting and the joys of growing a garden. Love it.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little book for toddlers about gardening. This was informative but also fun. This would work great with a container gardening program.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read if you're starting a garden, or already have one! It might even inspire you to begin one, even if you've never thought of it. It's inspiring me. So many fun ideas! (The pea hut? Wonder-val.)

Messy? Especially with littles? Yes. But the fun, learning, and wonder is worth it.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shared this with my favorite four-year-old and she really liked it! It's a book mostly about gardening - planting strawberries, peas, lettuce.. But it also talks about worms, mud, ladybugs, and bees. We were impressed with the diversity in the book! I think this would make a great read-aloud for a gardening or spring theme.

[Deborah]

Of course I read anything new about worms. :)

A sweet "first guide to outside" for our littlest gardeners!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first book about gardening for kids!

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and so great for storytime!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book. Be still my heart-- this book hits all the right notes for me. A diverse group of kids plant and harvest peas, strawberries, and carrots while gently co-existing with the insects around them. This book is both sweet and informative, encouraging active participation in the garden at a young age. (I whole-heartedly agree and have adorable pictures of family members at a year or two helping out in the garden). Back matter includes some guidance and reassurance for parents, as well as the suggestion to give kids a designated dig zone where they can literally dig in without threatening any seedlings.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super cute, accessible picture book that introduces gardening, nature and patience to young readers. I loved the simple text, the gradual reveal of the peas etc. Outside the range of my booktalks I'm preparing as I think this would most appeal to toddler/preschool aged children. Love the illustrations and the intro to gardening too!

[Christa Percival · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so charming! The pictures are beautiful, and it makes you want to go get your hands dirty and grow something with your toddler.
Multicultural and inclusive. I think this old easily become a favorite book!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, gentle, perfect picture book that honors nature and teaches youngsters about our role as thoughtful stewards and peaceful friends. Warm, earthy illustrations feature an inclusive array of little humans, and the text is simple yet informative--and often celebratory.

[Abigail Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! It’s rhythmic and a beautiful introduction to gardening and the little critters around gardening. It’s geared towards preschoolers, but that didn’t stop me from reading it to my 8&9 year old sons! They enjoyed it and I think it’s a great addition to any library!

[Elizabeth]

I love the colors in this book!

[Linda J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely how to book to introduce toddlers to gardening. Encourages parents to start kids early.

[Morgan Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable book that shows kids working together in a community garden. I think it’s important for children to see children in media doing all sorts of things. Most would think that children of certain ages are too little to work in a garden. But I love that it shows kids of all ages contributing. One is watering, one is planting, one is harvesting, and some are checking out the animals that live in the garden or simply enjoying it. A beautiful and whimsical book that teaches kids to appreciate the nature in their “backyard”

[Jannie Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet picture book with fun text that introduces kids to the joys of gardening. The lovely illustrations will make anyone want to go outside and play in the dirt- and grow your very own garden.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful organic illustrations for a sweet, simple story about gardening and making friends with the natural world

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful invitation for toddlers to experience the wonders and joys of gardening.

[hunter]

Can you tell my nephew has Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books and I got bored? This one awoken my inner gardener, though…

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous and inclusive illustrations give kids an idea of how to interact with small creatures and make a garden. Back matter includes tips for including kids in gardening activities.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: gardening, vegetables

[Mary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Look at all we’ve grown! Has anything ever tasted so sweet?”

Very simple text shows 3 toddlers as they learn about how to plant a garden. A note in the back tells grownups the benefits of gardening with children.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This introduction to simple gardening for small children has three "creepy crawlies": a worm, a ladybug, and a bee. A great book to share with children who like to play in the dirt.

[Ashley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3yo has recently taken an interest in gardening and gardening books, so I checked this one. It was a great introduction to gardening fruits and vegetables. The gentle and age-appropriate language and easy to follow illustrations made this the perfect read aloud for him.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children are helping plant a garden. They plant lettuce and peas. They greet little critters around the garden including a worm, a ladybug, and a bee. They harvest strawberries and carrots. The whole story does follow the growth of the pea plants. It's a cute book with lovely illustrations created from silkscreens and collaged in Photoshop.

2022 storytime theme: PreK Planters Flowers

Reviewed from a library copy.