Free Downloads There's A Hair In My Dirt! A Worm's Story
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 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.And so Father Worm describes the saga of a fair young maiden and her adventuresome stroll through her favorite forest, a perambulator's paradise. It is a journey filled with mystery and magic. Or so she thinks.Which is all we'll say for now.What exactly does the maiden encounter?Does Son Worm learn a lesson?More important, does he eat his plate of fresh dirt?Well, you'll have to read to find out, but let's just say the answers are right under your feet.Written and illustrated in a children's storybook style, There's a Hair in My Dirt! A Worm's Story is a twisted take on the difference between our idealized view of Nature and the sometimes cold, hard reality of life for the birds and the bees and the worms (not to mention our own species).Told with his trademark off-kilter humor, this first original non--Far Side book is the unique work of a comic master.Now Larson can finally sleep at night. Question is, will you?
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial; First Edition edition (October 6, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060932740
ISBN-13: 978-0060932749
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 10.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #43,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #58 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Cats, Dogs & Animals #449 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Satire #903 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Humor & Satire > Humorous
My grandfather once told me that when he was a boy, schools took field trips to the local slaughterhouse. There, the children saw how the food they ate was turned, violently, from a frolicking lamb or cow into tender vittles. Today we've become so separated from our means of survival that most of us can't even fathom the life-and-death struggles that are going on around us every day.With characteristic candor and capability, Gary Larson takes us on his own version of the slaughterhouse fieldtrip, reminding us of the cutthroat, utilitarian, and utterly unromantic reality of survival in this world. All the while, he helps that bitter pill slide down by coating it with a healthy dose of belly laughs-of the kind that used to make us spit up our coffee when we read The Far Side in the morning paper.But humans are not the focus of this long-awaited Larson gem (though the main characters are hilariously anthropomorphized-right down to the father "smoking" a pipe filled with dirt). The food being consumed here is not meat but soil, and the young protagonist, an earthworm with adolescent angst, must come to terms with his own role in nature.With a Zen-like pragmatism and a confidence that comes from his biological background, Larson challenges us to put our species pride aside, and to enjoy this natural world for what it is, not for what we want it to be.My wife is an elementary school teacher, and I discovered this book on one of the science shelves in her classroom, near the rotting pumpkin and the ant farm. It's a great teaching tool for children, but I would recommend it for students of all ages.
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!
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!
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!!
This parody of a children's story features a worm family, a young maiden and Gary Larson's twisted sense of humor and love of science. The illustrations are great, filled with little "Far Side" scenes as well as a larger storyline. If you are a fan of "Far Side" you know that Larson is a master of one panel, one-liner jokes. He can also use his twisted sense of humor and love of science in a larger, ongoing plot as well.Be prepared - this is a quick read. It took me about 15 minutes. Also, it looks like a little kid's book (K-3), but it is not. There are language and thematic issues that you should be aware of before handing it to your first-grader. On the other hand, your middle schooler will love it!
I have read this book to my students and they are still laughing and scientifically informed. I hope Mr. Larson continues to write such wonderful books. Thank you, Gary!
My son, Mr. Reality, loves this book. It is very funny -- created by Gary Larson, it looks at the circle of life. It uses good-old Far Side comedy (and irony) to explain the facts of life-and-death to any audience.
Such a funny story. Any Gary Larson fan will easily the twists in the story and the ending. Excellent illustrations.Not a book for young children because you may end up trying to explain some of Larson's weirdness.
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