The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm

Enjoy this lively and animistic tale of a motherless girl named Petunia who rescues and befriends a charming and talking caterpillar named Herman. As Herman 'worms' his way into the hearts of Petunia's family and friends, they learn to nurture and care for him. The Silly Adventures of Petunia & Herman the Worm reminds its readers about the transformative power of love, about the magic of unlikely friendships, and about respect for life in its many forms. An engaging chapter book for emerging readers ages 8 and above, this tale by first-time author Sam Baker will leave its readers wanting more. 130 pages, softcover. Illustrations by Ann Hess. Published by Book Baby 2018.

As a youngster of 10, Sam Baker used to feed the large green caterpillars he found crawling on dill plants in his family's backyard until they entered the pupa stage, eventually becoming beautiful butterflies. Later, as a father, he told bedtime stories about his caterpillar friends to his children, Sally and Mike. Those spontaneous stories inspired his first book, "The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm." As a storyteller, Baker has drawn upon an adventurous and fascinating life. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, he obtained his engineering degree from Mississippi State, joined the Marine Corps, and served in the South Pacific during World War II. His post-war adventures included flying over the North Pole in 1951 and being stationed in Cape Canaveral, Florida during the early days of the U.S. space program. He later served as the Director of the National Geodetic Survey. Retiring from the NOAA following 30 years of service, Sam worked on a fusion project for Brookhaven National Laboratories and later became the world's first GPS salesman. Sam now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he continues to craft his adventures around the world into delightful stories for children.