Aaron is allergic to every pet except goldfish. But he doesn’t want a goldfish – he wants something he can pat. His brother Ryan suggests they find some worms to keep as pets. Before long, the boys have found Pinky and Worm and have begun to care for them – soothing them when they’re scared, taking them for tricycle rides, and teaching them to count to 10. Then Ryan suggests a worm race. The race begins, but the worms never make it to the finish line, so the boys decide the race has continued underground. To guide their wiggly pets, Ryan and Aaron draw them a map of the neighbourhood and leave tissue-paper beds at various spots along the route. The race continues throughout the summer, but the worms never reappear – until the first day of school, when they turn up at last.

Gary Barwin’s story will appeal to young children whose imaginations know no bounds. The two human characters are likable and real, and even the worms have personalities. The conversations between Ryan and Aaron will ring true to any adult who has ever overheard kids plotting crazily detailed schemes.

Kitty Macaulay’s watercolour illustrations are simple but bright and full of the joy and wonder of childhood discoveries and secrets.