Synopsis: Boobela is a young giant – shy and lonely because everyone runs away from her. Worm is a worm – mischievous and courageous, clever and wise. When they meet, Boobela’s world changes. She learns to be brave and discovers magic. Together they fly hot-air balloons, play games on the beach – and make lots of new friends. This is their first book of exciting and funny adventures.

Review: Boobela and Worm is a gentle, warm-hearted series of stories, following the adventures of an insecure eight-year-old giant and her friend Worm. The central themes of the book are friendship and self-discovery, as the two main characters come to know and love each other better, face their fears, and learn more about themselves and other people. In Years 2 or 3, it might be used effectively to develop emotional literacy, exploring feelings of loneliness and love, fear and embarrassment, sorrow and joy through the safe medium of the story. As Boobela’s Gran remarks in the final section of the book: “Magic isn’t spells and abracadabra and hocus pocus. Magic is in your heart and in your mind.” (p. 84). That magic of social and emotional growth could easily be opened up though this text by a skilful teacher. Moreover, Friedman and Childs mark these moments of emotional intensity with physical changes in the text (causing it to wiggle worm-like across the page), providing opportunities during shared reading to spot the change and discuss the emotions which lie behind it. Sam Childs’ illustrations are a curious feature of the book. Created as digital collage, they combine photo images with painted ones, utilising a wide variety of texture and fabric patterns to add depth and interest. Additionally, the main stories are separated by double-page spreads, giving additional information about the two companions. These employ a number of different text types: letters from Boobela’s parents, labelled diagrams, even an explanation of how a hot-air balloon works, providing accessible ways into these less familiar genres. With the open ending promising more adventures to come, Boobela and Worm may just  be the beginning of young readers’ acquaintance with these characters, as they enjoy growing in confidence and self-assurance with them.

2007-04-04