Shapes (The World of Worm)

“Time for morning gymnastics. That’s how Worm stays in good shape.” Emerging from beneath a book, a pink earthworm with a large round eyeball guides readers on a daylong shape-spotting excursion. To introduce each form, the flexible invertebrate contorts itself, twisting into a circle, square, triangle, heart, and bedtime-suitable star, while everyday examples of the shapes feature on the facing page (a sun and fried egg depict circles; dice and hopscotch represent squares, and so on). Associated queries prompt engagement (“All of these hearts are found in nature. Which do you like best?”), and a light seek-and-find effect emphasizing the shape in question enlivens jaunty scenes (a whale with a heart-shaped tail spouts cordiform spray). More workbook than story, this translation from the Dutch offers a bright-eyed view of geometric forms. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)