This middle grade chapter book is short, but it’s also very sweet. They Didn’t Teach THIS in Worm School follows a worm named Marcus as he meets a bird named Laurence. The two quickly, albeit surprisingly, become friends of sorts and set out on a high flying whirlwind adventure. The pair learns several valuable life lessons, such as giving people the benefit of the doubt and being comfortable in your own skin. I think Lia did a fine job when she wrote this book. It’s very cute and sure to be a hit with young readers.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for letting me check this one out.

This was just an okay read for me. There wasn’t anything in particular I didn’t like about it. It just didn’t wow me.

I can't say that I loved this one. Even a little. Its not bad, just kind of foolish. It's a cut idea but it stretches the premise too far. It tries to turn a picture book idea into a novel.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One day, Marcus the worm finds himself face to face with a bird, about to become breakfast. Desperate to get away with his life, he asks the bird about his hobbies. This results in the unlikely pair-Marcus the worm and Laurence a chicken looking bird who thinks he is a flamingo-setting off on an adventure. Destination: Africa. They have quite the journey, and in the end they learn the importance of friendship and kindness.
The hijinks in They Didn't Teach This in Worm School were a bit much for me. There was so much going on that I almost felt dizzy. However, the target audience probably won't see this as a problem!

Pro tip: If reading this in Adobe Digital Editions, highlight sections around Marcus to read some of his illustrated text.

This was a fun adventure story with a strong theme focusing friendship and not judging others by who they are or what they believe. The story telling style is not one that I’m terribly crazy about–even when I was in grade school, I didn’t like it too much–but the story itself was a good balance of adventure, hijinks, and lessons about friendship.

Although the ARC copy didn’t have all the illustrations, the ones that there I did get to see were fun and added some visual humor to the story. There is a good balance of small supplementary illustrations and full page ones, making this an excellent transitionary chapter book or as a read-aloud for afternoon/snack time reading in class.

They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School!​ is a delightful adventure story for young readers just beginning to enjoy chapter books.

Marcus, a happy, home-loving worm makes an unexpected friend when Laurence, a chicken-like bird almost eats him. Being a quick-thinker (a talent that will help Marcus out as the stor​y progresses), Marcus prevents Laurence from eating him through inviting Laurence to get to know him, a process through which Laurence confesses that he has a dazzling flamingo just dying to burst out of his chicken-shaped self and that if only he could get to Kenya and join the other flamingos, he would be happy. Before Marcus knows it, he's flying on Laurence's back, off toward Africa, with a pitstop in Paris where slightly surreal and very funny characters and adventures await.

I loved Marcus, with his great problem-solving and friend-making skills and found this a funny, sweet read. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I like the idea of this book, that a worm and a bird can be friends.

And their adventures are silly enough, mistaking a zoo for Kenya, or thinking that transmission towers are the Eiffel Tower.

But this review copy doesn't have all the pictures, so I have missed many of the jokes, I fear, such as when they are dancing to fool the evil mole.

So, I think kids would enjoy this, the way they enjoy Captain Underpants, and other early readers, but hard to say wihtout being able to see the pictures, as they are a large part of the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This one just didn’t work for me. There were some cute moments, but the writing seemed more childish than for children.