Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature)
Wiggle and Waggle is a book about worms that will be a treat for most beginning readers. The two worms are pictured humorously throughout and will help dispel the notion that worms are to be avoided or smashed. Wiggle and Waggle are friends who happen to be worms. They enjoy their work making plants grow big and healthy. Wiggle and Waggle talk to each other, recite a poem, have a picnic, and are happy in their work. They act like people rather than worms. The last chapter explains how they have helped the garden to grow. Wiggle writes their names “Wiggle” and “Waggle” underground as a surprise for Waggle. They make plans to work together in the spring when their efforts will again be needed. But now they have the summer off and will meet again to make the best garden ever. There are true, fun facts about worms at the end of this forty-eight-page book. Caroline Arnold is an award-winning author who has written over one hundred books for children. Mary Peterson, illustrator, has made this book a treat to look at while reading the fascinating text. 2007, Charlesbridge Publishing, $12.95. Ages 5 to 8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 11))
Arnold, known for her science nonfiction, tucks plenty of natural history into this quintet of easy reading tales. Singing a work song—"We wiggle and waggle, squiggle and squirm. / Digging in dirt is the life of a worm"—two earthworms aerate a vegetable garden, work together to shift a rock out of the way, picnic beneath a bucket on dirt rolls and bug juice, play in a rain puddle and, finally, at summer's end, tunnel down for a long rest. Placing her worms in a well-tilled setting among healthy-looking veggies, Peterson endows them with smiles and goggle eyes, plus subtle differences in body color and, for Waggle, a pair of eyeglasses. An altogether agreeable visit to the garden, unsurprisingly capped by a page of additional worm facts. 2007, Charlesbridge, 48p, $12.95. Category: Easy reader. Ages 6 to 7. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Alexis Cuff (Kutztown Book Review, Spring 2008)
Wiggle and Waggle are worms that live in a vegetable garden. All day they dig and squirm around the roots of the plants. To make this hard work seem easier, they sing a digging song. They also discover that their digging helps the garden grow strong plants. In five easy chapters, the beginner reader can enjoy the friendship of these two worms as well as learn facts about the benefits worms bring to a garden. This would be a perfect selection to accompany a primary classroom’s study of plants. The story includes the lyrics of the song the friends sing throughout the story, and although it doesn’t include the melody, it would be fun to make a simple song up and allow the students to sing along. This would make a nice addition to the simple chapter book collection. Category: Fiction. 2007, Charlesbridge Publishing, $12.95. Ages 5 to 9.

Sherry Hoy (Library Media Connection, January 2008)
This chapter book showcases Wiggle and Waggle, the earthworms that work hard in the garden but also have fun. A page of worm facts and explanations of how worms help plants grow is included at the end. In five short chapters, they make up a digging song, contend with a big rock together, take a day off for a picnic, and get all muddy after the rain. Wiggle ends with a final chapter where he spells out their names with tunnels, and they get so excited, they have to sing their digging song again. Young readers will be captivated! The illustrations of both worms, especially Waggle in his glasses, and their underground tunnels looping around all the vegetables in the garden are delightful! I really love the picture of them sleeping with little distended bellies after their picnic of dirt rolls, bug juice, and mud pies. This should become a favorite, and I hope we'll see more Wiggle and Waggle adventures. Recommended. 2007, Charlesbridge Publishing, 48pp., $12.95 hc. Ages 5 to 10.

Arlene Stephenson (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 20, No. 3))
This book is a cute little adventure in learning all about worms. It is complete with a table of contents, chapters, lively drawings, and some actual factoids in the back. Wiggle and Waggle find ways to make a game of their daily job of digging dirt to help make a garden grow. Singing while they dig, working together, and taking time off for a picnic combine to make their job more fun. And who among us cannot learn from these two fanciful creatures? Singing along as we work, helping each other through difficult times, and taking time to stop and smell the roses all make life a whole lot more enjoyable. Books with possibilities for “life discussions” are always winners. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 1-2. 2007, Charlesbridge, 48p., $12.95. Ages 6 to 8.