Gender-Bending Worms Marry In New Children’s Book

A delightful new picture book features two worms who want to marry, but have a dilemma. Their friends want to know: which one of them will be the bride, and which one the groom?

In J. J. Austrian’s Worm Loves Worm, the friends of the happy couple are pushy about all aspects of the wedding planning, insisting on the need for dancing, a cake, and an officiant (an uptight cricket). That’s “how it’s always been done” they say. When the other insects say there can only be one bride and one groom, however, and want to know which of the worms will wear the dress and which the tux, the worms put their metaphorical feet down.

“‘I can be the bride,’ says Worm. ‘I can, too,’ says Worm”—and they say the same about being the groom. One wears a veil, bow tie, and black pants; the other wears a top hat and white skirt. They both don gold rings as belts. “‘We’ll just change how it’s done,’ says Worm.”

The book goes beyond other children’s books that feature the weddings of same-sex couples by reminding us that not only do same-sex couples marry, but sometimes we don’t follow traditional expressions of gender, either. In fact, one doesn’t even have to use gender labels, same-sex or different-sex, to describe a loving relationship and marriage. It’s a great message lightened by the lively text and Mike Curato’s whimsical illustrations.

(Thanks to Sarah Brannen for the tip; her Uncle Bobby’s Wedding is another terrific picture book with anthropomorphic characters and a same-sex wedding.)

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