Marty McGuire Digs Worms!

Gr 2–3—The spirited youngster introduced in Marty McGuire (Scholastic, 2011) returns. After Amelia Ranidae, the Frog Lady, speaks at a class assembly, she invites the children to compete in a contest to create the best Earth-friendly project. Marty and her friend Annie decide to make recycled paper, but after several attempts that include using Marty's birthday paper-doll collection and breaking her dad's food processor, the idea is no longer promising. As the girls try to figure out how to fix the mess, Marty's grandmother shows up and helps them. She also suggests another idea for them to try—a lunchroom worm farm. This project turns out to be a big hit, especially when the students think they can chuck all of their leftovers into the composter. Everything seems to go well until too much food gets dumped in the farm and the worms explode all over the cafeteria floor. Packed with eco-friendly ideas, this realistic, plot-driven early chapter book is a welcome addition to Earth Day or environmental units. The illustrations reflect the characters well, and the black-and-white drawings help to establish the mood. Readers of Annie Barrow's "Ivy and Bean" stories (Chronicle) or Megan McDonald's "Judy Moody" series (Candlewick) will enjoy Marty McGuire's adventures.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI