Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories

About this book

This sweet, giggle-inducing early reader kicks off a brand-new series featuring two unlikely friends in the tradition of Frog and Toad, from the beloved Geisel Award-winning author of The Watermelon Seed. A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Earl and Worm have been friends for a very, very long time, but their friendship had a rocky start. Earl is a happy go-lucky bird who plays saxophone to his plants because they love music in the morning. His neighbor Worm, on the other hand...well, Worm is the exact opposite. She would rather read in silence. How will these very different neighbors become the very best of friends? With some sweet lemonade, the right shade of paint, an unfinished poem, and, most of all, sharing a little bit about themselves. Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli

Similar grade-level books

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  Frog and Toad Are Friends
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  Green Eggs and Ham
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  Amelia Bedelia
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See all books like Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades k–1. Published in the canon; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Great Lakes Great Books Award

  • recommended·Kindergarten grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — K-1 division
  • recommended·1st grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — K-1 division

Common questions

What grade level is Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories?

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–1. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories?

It takes about 1h 20m to read Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories (73 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 80 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories?

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories appears on reading lists for Great Lakes Great Books Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories banned in schools?

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.