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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Everyone wants to feel special. That's the idea at the heart of Pearl by Jennifer Louise. This rhyming picture book follows a lonely clam living on the ocean floor. She believes she's plain next to the other sea creatures. They’re bright and beautiful, everything she’s not. They swim by and tease her every single day. This makes her sad, and she buries herself deeper into the sand. Squirm the worm is the only one who asks her to play. At first, Clam tells her to go away. Even so, the little worm keeps trying. Little by little, the clam starts to see herself differently. Then something amazing happens. What was it? And in the end, do they become friends after all?
Maya Angelou said, "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." I couldn't help thinking of that quote while reading Pearl by Jennifer Louise. Squirm becomes exactly that kind of friend. This picture book shares an inspiring message that's easy for young readers to understand. As a teacher, I thought it was encouraging that Squirm never stopped caring, even when it wasn't returned. That’s an important concept for children to learn. It would fit perfectly into a unit on kindness, friendship, or self-esteem. After reading, I would talk with my students about being a nice person. The kids could also write about a quality that makes them special on the inside, which could be turned into a "pearls of character" bulletin board. MaryLou Landmark's illustrations added so much to the story. They perfectly captured Clam's quiet worries and Squirm's cheerful nature. My favorite one showed Clam finally opening her shell to reveal something very special. The bright colors helped make that moment hopeful without saying a word. Those who enjoy stories about friendship, confidence, faith, and finding strength through challenges will want to pick this one up. It belongs in homes, classrooms, church libraries, and school libraries alike.
