The Bookworm

by Debi Gliori

Published by Bloomsbury, 2019

  • Picture books

About this book

Max wants a pet, but mum and dad don’t want a puppy, a kitten, a shark or a dragon. It’s so not fair! Max decides to find himself a pet, but it’s not easy – birds are chatty but don’t want to live in houses and wasps don’t mind living in houses, but aren’t that friendly. Finally, Max finds a worm for a pet and brings it home to live in a bowl of earth in his room.

Excitingly, the worm loves listening to Max read books; it also loves curry and extra hot chilli crisps. Yet when the worm starts to change, Max realises it isn’t a worm at all… Will Max’s pet still come home for a book at bedtime? Or has it grown too big and dangerous for stories?

Debi Gliori’s heartwarming tale of a boy and his unusual pet’s relationship is full of the everyday magic that stories bring, being firmly rooted in Max’s home life and the relatable desire for a pet that is so common for young children, while also being a tribute to the transformative nature of reading.

About the author

Debi Gliori has written and illustrated over 70 picture books, including the popular Mr Bear series. More recently she has also turned to older fiction, including the Pure Dead and Witch Baby series. She has also been shortlisted for major prizes, including the Kate Greenaway Award twice, the Scottish Arts Council Award and the Royal Mail Award.

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