An exploration intothe dirt uncovers worms, pill bugs, seeds, and more. An eager child is plantingsome seeds and seedlings into a plot of earth. The digging uncovers a worm."Worm wiggles." More digging produces a rock. "Rock sits."Still more digging uncovers a pill bug that curls, a seed that waits, a spiderthat runs, and a sprout that grows. Our intrepid gardener keeps digging,placing plants into the ground, watering them, and making mud in the process.

The spare, repetitive text is appropriate for the audience, but it leads to anunfortunate lack of clarity regarding whether the child is finding some of theobjects in the dirt--the seeds and sprouts, for example--or placing them there.The illustrations, done with linoleum block prints on paper with digitaltouch-ups, feature close-ups of the child's hands and the soil being dug. Thecritters unearthed, even the worm and spider, appear friendly, and somestrategically placed birds and flowers add welcome pops of color. Use this oneto talk to preschoolers about what's in the ground and encourage them to findtheir own plot of earth to explore. (Picture book. 2-5).