There's a Hair in My Dirt! A Worm's Story

By Gary Larson

Book Overview

Once upon a time, in a place far away, lived a man named Gary Larson who used to draw cartoons. It was a cartoon that appeared for many years in daily newspapers and was loved by millions. (And was confusing to millions more.) But one day he stopped. Gary went into hiding. He made a couple of short films. He played his guitar. He threw sticks for his dogs. They threw some back. Yet Gary was restless. He couldn't sleep nights. Something haunted him. (Besides Gramps.) Something that would return him to his roots in biology, drawing and dementia -- a tale called There's a Hair in My Dirt A Worm's Story. It begins a few inches underground, when a young worm, during a typical family dinner, discovers there's a hair in his plate of dirt. He becomes rather upset, not just about his tainted meal but about his entire miserable, wormy life. This, in turn, spurs his father to tell him a story -- a story to inspire the children of invertebrates everywhere...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006019104X
• ISBN13: 9780060191047
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Buying 2nd copy

This is truly a great book for kids and adults alike teaching us about nature and where we will end up next. My kids love it and after reading it again last night with a few pages missing, I had to reorder!

Biology Class loved Larson's "Hair in My Dirt."

Taught two biology classes of 9th graders this past school year, and we took turns reading aloud from a class set of "There's a Hair in My Dirt!" by Gary Larson. It was a great lead-in to our ecology unit. I even found pages in our biology textbooks that further explained some of the science topics he brought up--it was great being able to tie this very entertaining (and educational) book to our own textbooks. The illustrations are especially engaging.

TWISTED

IF YOU ARE A LITTLE TWISTED THIS IS A VERY FUNNY BOOK. THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS ARE A WHINER AND A DO GOODER.

Look out below!

The book is educational, amusing (not hilarious)and features a clever story punctuated by timeless illustrations. Written from a worm's perspective, the story clears up misconceptions about the natural world. In the book, Larson points out that a felled tree is a boon to the environment although it may, at first blush, seem a loss to humankind. My five year old may understand that nature reclaims all things living but if the tree that holds his swing falls down he will grieve the loss and have difficulty appreciating the upside to this natural occurence. Death is the naturaI conclusion to life but I don't think anyone should be expected to view it so clinically. Feelings persist.

For the pseudo-environmentalist in all of us!

Off-the-wall cartoonist/satirist/humorist Gary Larson's "There's a Hair in My Dirt! A Worm's Story" is as effective a life science text as any that might be in a middle school or high school classroom today. Not only does Larson provide some biological facts but he does it in such an entertaining manner that the reader, especially the young one, may not realize that he/she is learning something. Also, the illustrations require some close scrutiny for many of the jokes lie in the remote corners of the pages. For those of us that claim to be concerned for the environment, this book turns some preconceptions topsy-turvy. As an educator, I just can imagine what Larson could do to ignite the language arts, math, and the social studies. We need more tales of "Harriet" in public and private schools! He could work wonders for the classroom!

Excellent book!! Two thumbs up!!

Gary Larson has wrote a masterpiece!! This is his best work yet. Not only is it delightfully entertaining, it's educational. The book "There's a Hair In My Dirt!," has all the beautiful illustrations we are used to of his. I recommend this book to everyone who loves nature, or is a fan of Gary Larson's brilliant work. This is the best book Iv'e ever read, you'll never be able to stop laughing!!

Wonderfully Funny!

We bought this book at the Tourist Information Center at Pt. Reyes in Northern California. It was among books about the ocean, lighthouses, scenic spots in that area, and science. My husband, being a devout Gary Larson fan, had to have it. I'm not a fan but I am a grandma to 5 kids from 10 to 1, so it seemed like a cute book they would like to have read to them, or read themselves. It is such a delightful story as well as being educational. The illustrations are great! We immediately began counting all the people we know who would also enjoy it, adults and kids alike. It will be something we buy in bulk this Christmas. Try it, you'll like it!