Winnie Finn, worm farmer

PreS-Gr 2-With a zest for worm farming, young Winnie cares for her red wiggler companions. Hoping to submit them as an entry in the county fair competition, she asks her neighbors for advice, but they are all preoccupied with their own ambitious offerings. In a quiet twist, Winnie's worms serve a greater purpose by helping the other competitors. Instructions for creating a worm farm conclude the lighthearted narrative. Nimble lines and cool colors depict the energy of the active outdoor scenes. Humorous details abound through animated expressions: Winnie's a hoot as she cuddles her favored worm close to her face while the disgusted cat yowls. She maintains her endearing qualities throughout with her smile, freckled cheeks, and no-nonsense visor pulled low over her hair. Winnie's spunky, good-natured heart anchors a gentle and entertaining read.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Winnie Finn, worm farmer extraordinaire, would love to win a prize at the annual county fair, so she can buy herself a new wagon. But worms are never recognized as trophy winners. Winnie knows better: Raising good red wigglers will help her neighbors earn prizes for the best corn, best egg layer and prettiest Afghan puppy. With a little help from each of her friends, Winnie applies her worm knowledge and ingenuity to help Mr. Abernathy raise the tallest corn, which in turn is fed to Mrs. Yamasaki-O'Sheridan's productive hens, whose eggs help Mr. Peasley's pups develop the shiniest coatsresulting in first prizes for all. Brendler creates a clever cumulative ecological tale filled with spunk and a bit of vermiculture. Hoyt's sprightly cartoons add just the right amount of humorous action to Winnie's worm-farming tasks, while Winnie's winning personality allows readers to learn a bit about the positive aspects of worm composting. An author's note includes directions for creating a worm farm and sources. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.