Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. There are other “Diary” books by this author, such as Diary of a Fly, but they are not considered a series. Three of them have been grouped together and sold as “The Bug Diaries.”
Through short journal entries, a young worm describes his daily life. He burrows in the ground to help the earth breathe and tries, unsuccessfully, to teach his friend, Spider, to do the same. He watches out for the dangers around him, such as fishermen digging for bait and kids playing hopscotch. He scares little girls, eats his macaroni art project and engages in a very abbreviated “Hokey Pokey” dance with classmates. Amid dreams of becoming a Secret Service agent, he gets in trouble at school for eating his homework and at home for telling his sister her face looks just like her rear end.
He sustains a special friendship with Spider, even though they often compare themselves to each other based on their anatomic differences. The worm concludes that he dislikes being a worm because he has so much homework and can’t chew gum or have a dog. But he does like that he can always track mud through the house and doesn’t have to bathe. He finds it hard to be so small and forgettable, but Mom reminds him that the earth never forgets he’s there.
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Mom tells the worm to remember that the earth gives them everything they need. She also says that even though people forget worms are there, the earth never forgets about them.
Mom is frequently pictured in the young worm’s diary, offering advice or encouragement. Dad also hugs and praises his son for his wormly acts, such as remaining dirty.
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