(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Ezra Stein. Eldest worm sibling Emma is excited when her mom, feeling nostalgic, announces she's hired photographer Mr. Muskrat to take a family picture. Emma goes around telling all her animal friends about the upcoming event. At each stop, she learns of that friend's experience being photographed--beaver Ellie flashes a toothy smile (uh-oh, thinks Emma, worms don't have teeth); cat Abigail gets meticulously groomed (...or fur); butterfly Olivia's multi-hued family members arrange themselves "like a rainbow" (...or different colors). Emma is bummed by the prospect of a boring photo, but she thinks she's found a solution via a costume trunk. The Worm family members get all dressed up, but in the end--and after some giggle-inducing illustrations of worms incognito--they ditch the ­disguises for a look that's truly them. Stein's worms could be cousins to Richard Scarry's, with guileless facial expressions and simple, personality-enriching accessories. The earth(worm)-toned mixed-media illustrations have lots of adorable detail (watch Baby Worm). The text has kid-appeal ("Cool," is Emma's signature understated response), and the situations are relatable for young people longing to stand out from the crowd.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021