Carl and the Meaning of Life
Below is my review as it appeared in the March, 2019, edition of
School Library Journal. It was definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
FREEDMAN, Deborah. Carl and the Meaning of Life. illus. by
Deborah Freedman. 48p. Viking. Apr. 2019. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780451474988.
PreS-Gr 2--Carl is an earthworm who spends his day tunneling
through the soil. When a field mouse asks him why he does what he does, Carl
realizes that he does not know--but he is determined to find out. Carl visits
with Bear, Rabbit, Fox, and others who are aware of their own purposes, but
not Carl's. It takes a tiny ground beetle to enlighten him.
Nature-inspired watercolor illustrations are gentle and inviting. The text
appears in a simple black font, complementing the artwork. When Carl is busy
at his job, the text is white against the brown earth and meanders across the
pages, following Carl's tunneling track. Tiny black eyes and
communicative postures express the attitudes of Carl and the other animals.
But on the last page, when Carl finally learns his raison d'etre,
readers also see a hint of his satisfied smile. VERDICT This book is a
poignant example of the important contributions of even the smallest
creature, but it's better than that--it's a science lesson as well.
Freedman subtly explains the delicate balance of nature and each
creature's role in maintaining it. Carl is an endearing
protagonist.
Copyright:
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Reprinted with permission.
