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    Carl and the Meaning of Life
    Carl and the Meaning of Life
    Carl and the Meaning of Life
    Audiobook8 minutes

    Carl and the Meaning of Life

    Written by Deborah Freedman

    Narrated by Adam Grupper

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the often Caldecott-buzzed Deborah Freedman, a sweet and funny story about finding your place in the world. Carl is an earthworm. He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short: "Why?" Carl's quest takes him on an adventure to meet all the animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do, unlike the curious Carl. But it's not until the world around him has changed that Carl begins to realize everyone, no matter how small, makes a big difference just by being themselves.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateApr 2, 2019
    ISBN9781980025122
    Carl and the Meaning of Life

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    Reviews for Carl and the Meaning of Life

    4/5

    21 ratings3 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Not only is the story itself wonderful, it can lead to so many wonderful discussions about taking care of the earth, composting, and how each person is important and even interconnected. The illustrations bring this story to life. Make sure to have a copy of the book when listening to this audio file.
    • 3/5
      All hail the mighty earthworm!This picture book does a pretty good job of summarizing in a fraction of the pages the equally well-done The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms. Read this then join me in singing "Circle of Life" at the top of your lungs.
    • 3/5
      Picture-book creator Deborah Freedman returns to the form in this seventh title that she has written and illustrated, this time exploring the role of earthworms in the larger ecosystem. Carl is constantly tunneling under the ground, digesting and then casting leaves and dirt, creating a rich fluffy soil. But when a field mouse asks him why he does what he does, and he has no answer, his search for the solution leads to natural disaster. Searching here and there, asking all of the animals what his purpose is, Carl neglects the soil, which soon hardens becoming incapable of supporting life. Eventually realizing what he is meant to do, he gets back to work, creating the rich earth that everyone around him depends upon...Although not my favorite, of Freedman's books - that honor belongs to her lovely This House, Once - I found Carl and the Meaning of Life an engaging and thought-provoking picture-book. Framed in a philosophical light, the story explores the interdependence of all the creatures and plants in a given ecosystem, and highlights the all-important role of a very small and seemingly humble creature: the earthworm. I appreciated the message implicit in the story, while enjoying the story itself, and imagine that many young children will as well. The artwork, done in pencil, watercolor and colored pencil, is lovely. Unsurprisingly, my favorite figure was the beautiful red fox, who can be seen on the cover. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books with an ecological theme, that explore the interdependence of all life.