The Dirt!: Wild Life Under the Soil's Surface -- Lindsey Leigh, Hardcover

Dig into the often messy world of critters who live underground and learn about why soil is essential to life on earth!

Did you know there is an entire ecosystem right beneath our feet? Have you ever heard of the "poop loop"? This graphic nonfiction title will both educate and excite young readers about the wonders (and creepiness!) of animals that live underground, including worms, beetles, armadillos, badgers, and even the tiniest of protozoa.

Author and illustrator Lindsey Leigh continues her popular and humorous trilogy by introducing critters of all sizes in this fact-filled book about the dirt-dwelling creatures that contribute to the soil food web and are crucial to the health of the world. Join her on this graphic and grimy deep dive into The Dirt!

Author: Lindsey Leigh
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Published: 11/25/2025
Pages: 96
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.58lbs
ISBN: 9780593889657
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025

About the Author
Lindsey Leigh grew up near Washington, DC, fascinated by the Smithsonian museums and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Her passion for communicating scientific ideas eventually led her to join the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. She has since completed a scientific illustration internship with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and has created educational comics for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Tech, and the magazine BBC Focus. She is the author of The Deep! (Penguin Workshop) and The Dark! (Penguin Workshop).