Carl and the meaning of life by Deborah Freedman

I have a series of art programs based on different authors, We Explore Art, and after reading this book I decided that we absolutely need a new one on Deborah Freedman!

The endpapers are a swathe of green hues, which shift to the washed purples and whites of the title page, showing a small worm peering up at the sky. Soft, watery colors introduce the various creatures of his world until we meet Carl, an earthworm, digging deep in the earth. The words run up and down, just as Carl digs up and down in the dirt, day after day. Until one day a mouse asks a question. "Why?"

Carl sets out to find the answer, asking each creature why they do what they do along the way. Each animal has a reason for what they do; to support their family, to hunt for food, to plant trees... but none know why Carl does what he does. As Carl travels farther and farther, he hardly notices the changes in the earth around him as it grows dry and barren. The animals begin to leave and soon there is no one left to ask "why?" It's only then that Carl finds the answer to his question and returns to his purpose. His "why" is to support all the other animals, keeping the earth rich and fertile, allowing the seeds to grow, the animals to thrive, and each of them to fulfill their purpose.

A final author's note reflects on the importance of connections and asks readers how they help the earth that Carl and his friends live on and in.

Freedman's watercolors are soft and, well, watery. But they're still beautiful, catching the soft greens of the earth and the spreading dry browns after Carl sets out on his journey. Shades of color and tiny details, like leaves mixed into the soil, a tiny spider's web, and a collection of nuts, dot the pages, rewarding close readers with little surprises throughout the story.

Verdict: This reflective story will appeal to preschool and up; pair it with a storytime on worms, compost, or gardening and encourage them all to think of the little ways they can help the earth around them and to marvel at the many ways that the creatures on earth work together.

ISBN: 9780451474988; Published April 2019 by Viking; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library