Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
| Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | |
|
| |
| Category: For Sharing | |
| |
Reviewer: Jo Heffer
 | |
| Summary: Nobody needs to worry about anything when Superworm is about as he can just about save anyone from anything. However, who will save Superworm when he gets into trouble himself? This is another wonderful rhyming story from the very successful team of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: September 2012 |
| Publisher: Alison Green Books | |
| ISBN: 9781407132044 | |
|
Share on: | |
|
| |
Superworm is long and strong and he's a real hero as far as all of his insect friends are concerned. He always comes to the rescue when there is trouble. When Baby Toad is in danger of being run over on a major road, he turns himself into a lasso and scoops the baby away from the oncoming wheels. Another time, Beetle falls into a well and Superworm transforms himself into a fishing line in order to save him. In fact, Superworm can pretty much turn himself into anything and that makes him a very useful and helpful friend.
Unfortunately, there is a mean Wizard Lizard living nearby and when he hears about Superworm's powers he orders his servant crow to find and capture him, which he does. The lizard then gets Superworm tunnelling in the soil in order to find lots of hidden treasure for him. All of Superworm's insect friends are dismayed when they find out what has happened and they are determined to help set him free. Will they be able to come up with a cunning plan and save their own special super hero?
This is another fabulous story from Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson and it is complemented so well by Axel Scheffler's engaging illustrations. The story is very clever and my daughters were delighted by Superworm's versatility in transforming into so many different guises. Amongst other things, he can turn himself into a swing, a slide, a fairground ride and a hoola-hoop. We also had a lot of fun coming up with our own ideas of other things that Superworm could possibly become.
As with most of Julia Donaldson's books, the story is entirely in rhyme. This is brilliant for young children who will love to supply the rhyming words at the end of every other line and this will help them to develop their early phonological skills. The language is lively and there is quite a bit of repetition for small children to join in with:
Superworm is super-long.
Superworm is super-strong.
Watch him wiggle! See him squirm!
Hip, hip, hooray for SUPERWORM!
The illustrations are perfect for this story and if you have read other books from this pair, such as The Gruffalo or Stick Man, they will have a very familiar feel to them. They are very entertaining with lots of humour and lots of lovely detail to look out for. One of our favourite pages is where there are lots of pictures showing all the different things that Superworm can turn himself into.
Overall, this is fabulous book that children and their parents will want to return to again and again. If you already have a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler collection, you will definitely want to add Superworm to it.
Why not take a look at Stick Man, another wonderful book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler?
Please share on: 
Facebook, 
Twitter and
Instagram
You can read more book reviews or buy Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler at Amazon.com.
Comments
Like to comment on this review?
Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.
