A girl saw a worm disappear down a hole. So she followed the worm to see where it would go.

Written and Illustrated by Dean Maryon

Into The Wormhole, Outer Space, is a picture book about a girl who spies a worm disappearing down a wormhole. The girl follows the worm to see where it’s going. Together the two travelers journey through time and space to find the best planet in the solar system. As they go, they learn about each planet until they realize why Earth is such a special place.

I was inspired to write and illustrate the book after the birth of my first child, Olivia. The interest in the moon and the night sky led me to write and illustrate a story in which she travels through space, learning about the diverse worlds that share our solar system. It's a little bit scary, which kids like when their parents are reading to them, and it's instructional without kids knowing that they are learning about the planets.

We meet a little girl at the end of the street, as she tidies her room one evening before tea. She spies a worm disappearing down a hole and decides to follow the worm to see where it goes. The wormhole bends time and space, leading girl and the worm through time and space to planets that exist beyond their imagination.

As the two travellers go in search of the best planet, they learn about the nature of each world they visit. Ultimately leading them to one conclusion, Earth is the best planet in space. It has the best of every other planet in the solar system and so much more.

Finally the two travellers return to earth to explore what makes earth different to all the other planets. The worm and the girl say goodnight and farewell until the next time the girl and worm venture into the Wormhole to explore some more.