Ever seen a worm with two arms, two hands, and a smiling face? Herman the worm is a unique creature, to say the least, and sadly, not many people are friendly towards this little guy. After scaring Ms. Walker so badly that she passes out and drives her car off the road, Herman is about to give up on humankind when he meets sweet Petunia and her father. The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm by Sam Baker follows an unlikely duo that come up with all sorts of shenanigans and have lots of laughs along the way.

This heartwarming story is absolutely wonderful. There are so many important messages in this book and life lessons that kids can learn from. Acceptance is the main message in this charming book. Many people try to get rid of Herman the moment they see him. Mr. and Mrs. James scream when Herman lands on their windshield, and they try whatever they can to get rid of him. Ms. Walker faints at the sight of Herman even though he smiles and waves, trying to look as friendly as possible. Only sweet and kind Petunia, who is not deterred by his appearance or strangeness, accepts him for who he is.

Another really amazing message in this book is change. Change is inevitable and scary. For kids, this is a lesson that’s learned the hard way. Herman goes through a big change and this scares Petunia, her father and their family friend, Emma. But it soon becomes clear that this is just a natural part of Herman’s lifecycle.

The illustrations by Ann Hess in the book remind me of classic children’s books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? The style is akin to realism using chalk or acrylic paints, and the grainy texture gives the pictures a more cartoony look. I like this style best when there is a lot of detail and focus on the subject of the illustration. A great example of this is the first illustration of Mr. Wilson, whose expression of admiration for his prize green tomato is very apparent in his raised eyebrows and pursed lips. I found it funny that Herman starts calling Emma’s Daddy, “Daddy” because that is what Emma refers to him as.

The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm is a light-hearted and well-meaning book. There are many life lessons for kids to learn through reading about Herman and his adventures.

Pages: 108 | ASIN : B07CRYXRRH

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