Lowdown on Earthworms

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

At last, the real dirt on earthworms. Few people give these humble
creatures much credit, but according to Dixon, Charles Darwin himself
recognized that earthworms played a major role in making life on Earth
possible.

This book is a fascinating window into the world of Annelida
Oligochaeta (the Latin name for worms), which means “animals with
ringed bodies and few bristles.” Fortunately, it bristles with facts,
fun projects, and intriguing worm trivia. For facts, Dixon informs the
reader that if not for worms the surface of the world would be metres
deep in a sea of rotting leaves and dead animals. For fun projects, she
shows how to build a wormery out of an old pop bottle and a worm caller
out of a stick and an iron bar. For worm trivia, Dixon reveals that
worms have five hearts, a gizzard, and a dietary preference for carrots
and horseradish.

By balancing a sense of wonder with a sense of humour, Dixon produces
prose that is a pleasure to read. Dozens of photographs and full-colour
illustrations give the reader a worm’s-eye view of the world. An
index, a glossary, a bibliography, and a suggested reading list are
included at the end of the volume. After reading this outstanding book,
you may never bait another fish hook. Highly recommended.