K-Gr 2-Two friends spend a lot of time together. One day, Bob (a caterpillar) looks up into the tree and decides he needs to climb. Otto (an earthworm) stays below, digging in the soil. At this point, Bob's story appears on the top of the pages, with Otto's below. Bob climbs, eats, and takes a nap in a cocoon while Otto eats and digs through the dirt. Bob emerges as a beautiful yellow butterfly. Otto becomes sad when he sees his friend, as he thinks that had he climbed the tree, he could have been a butterfly too, instead of being "Just a big-fat-worm." Luckily, Bob's a clever pal and he knows that Otto is aerating the soil, helping the tree to grow, and providing food for Bob. The story is a good vehicle for showing that friends don't always have to do the same things, and that their actions can complement one another's. Bright, vibrant illustrations on full spreads enhance the satisfying story, which would be perfect for introducing spring science units.-Nancy Kunz, Tuckahoe Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A father-and-son team has created a delightful tale celebrating the relationship of an unlikely twosome who manage to find the strength in their partnership. On the surface, Bob the caterpillar and Otto the earthworm are bosom buddies, playing together and digging in the ground as though they were the same species. But when instincts propel them to change their routine, the two find themselves on completely different paths. Says Otto, "Life is good just where we are. Why would you want to go up there?"/"Because it's important," said Bob. And up the tree he went." Nick Bruel (Bad Kitty) lets readers see the simultaneous changes taking place via a split-screen format, which aptly contrasts their different work styles. An accessible introduction to the processes of nature, as well as a fitting tribute to enduring friendship. Ages 3-6. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The Bruels explore the transformative power of friendship in this clever tale of a worm and a caterpillar. All spring, Bob and Otto explore, dig, play and eat leaves, until suddenly Bob gets the urge to climb a tree. Otto tries to talk him out of it, but Bob must go. A horizontal page-split then chronicles the activities of the two friends: Bob climbs, eats, sleeps and flies, while Otto digs. Eventually, the bonds of friendship pull the two back together. Feeling like a lowly worm, Otto chastises himself for just digging. But Bob's perspective is quite different; he appreciates his friend for nourishing the tree so he could become a butterfly. "You're not just a worm. You're my best friend." Brilliantly colored illustrations manage to convey energy and motion even though caterpillars and worms are not known for either. Just the right mix of worm's-eye view and big picture allows children to see that even small actions have an impact. Illustrated and published posthumously by Robert's son, Nick, this is a charming tribute to friendship and the stories all parents tell their children. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

(Preschool) Artist Nick Bruel presents his late father's sweet tale about the importance of accepting who you are. Two ""very good friends"" who look and act alike play happily together until, one day, they realize they have different interests. Bob, a caterpillar, wants to climb a tree, while Otto, a worm, wants to dig beneath it. They begin to change before readers' eyes -- one not so much, the other quite a bit -- and both eventually realize their differences are what make them unique. Bob and Otto are charismatic characters, with plump, round bodies that clearly express their emotions. The sequences in which the two friends' paths split are particularly effective, with one story positioned above the other with separate lines of text (Bob ""climbed...and he climbed"" while Otto ""dug...and he dug""). Along with the engaging story, the science in the illustrations and text is quite accurate; there are rich, not-to-be missed visual details that show not just the obvious transformation of caterpillar to butterfly but also the growth of a worm as it digs and eats underground. Children will delight in noticing the differences and will enjoy the concluding happy reunion of two true friends. Copryight 2007 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Worms Bob and Otto are good friends who resemble each other except for Bob's stripes. They do the same things until the day Bob needs to climb a tree, and Otto needs to wiggle into the ground. In split pages, Bob eats leaves; Otto digs. Bob sleeps for many days and nights; Otto digs and digs some more. The sturdy artwork, which mixes colors earthy and bright, shows Bob turning into a green sack as he sleeps. Finally, he awakens and feels like flying; no wonder, since he's now a butterfly. On the ground, Otto is feeling sad. If he had climbed the tree he could have grown wings, too. But Bob informs him that while he was eating, sleeping, and flying, Otto's digging loosened the soil so the tree roots could drink water and grow tall with green leaves--which allowed him to grow wings. Savvy kids will know that the striped worm is a caterpillar while the plain worm is--a worm. Cocoonlike, the nature lesson is wrapped inside a friendship story. Preschoolers will dig it. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2007 Booklist