The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm

by Sam Baker, Ann Hess (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780999660348
Publisher:	Happy Publishing, WM Impring
Publication date:	04/28/2018
Pages:	108
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.28(d)
Age Range:	5 - 12 Years

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

THE SILLY ADVENTURES OF PETUNIA AND HERMAN THE WORM
By
Sam Baker

The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm is a story for children of all ages, including grown-up ones. It eloquently, yet simply, expresses positive messages about respect for others, accepting what we cannot change, and finding the bright moments in life to carry us through the rough ones.
Herman is a tomato worm who discovers the meaning of true friendship through his adventures with a young girl named Petunia.

This charming story begins when Herman meets several people during a series of mishaps. Their reaction to the tomato worm is not positive due to the fact that Herman is quite different from other worms. He has two arms, two hands, a face and speaks perfect English.

It is only Petunia - and later her Daddy, Grandmother, and family friend, Emma - who realizes how truly special Herman is. They all soon grow to love and treasure him.

There are laughs along the way. Herman has a peculiar condition - his appetite for lettuce and green tomatoes is never satisfied, amazing for someone with such a small body. He's very innocent. When he hears Grandmother's voice over the telephone, he actually thinks she somehow has gotten inside it and then when he sees Big Bird on Sesame Street on television, he fears for his very life. (We all know what birds like to eat.) He does manage to learn to play chopsticks on the piano.

Perhaps the most powerful element of this delightful story is the sheer enchantment of experiencing everyday life through the loving eyes of friendship. Herman and Petunia quickly develop a magical bond that transcends outward appearances and usual expectations. Her nurturing father, a single parent, supports them without hesitation through each moment of curiosity and every new feeling.

Ultimately, this simple story is one of profound wisdom. Herman undergoes a physical transformation that impacts the essence of what he is and what he can become. The spiritual cores of Petunia, Daddy, and Emma are also touched by this occurrence in a way they will never forget.

The universal truths about life, nature and the process of change are presented in this sweet, heartfelt story with dignity, care, and an exhilarating concern regarding our most tender feelings.


Table of Contents







1. THE LARGE GREEN WORM

2. MR. AND MRS. JAMES

3. MS. WALKER

4. PETUNIA FINDS HERMAN

5. DADDY DISCOVERS HERMAN

6. HERMAN AT GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE

7. THE GROCERY STORE

8. A NEW HOME

9. EMMA

10. BIG BIRD AND CHOPSTICKS

11. BEEGEEBEE'S

12. HERMAN IS MISSING

13. HERMAN IS BACK

14. A RACE TO THE FINISH

Editorial Reviews

Posted by Literary Titan Ever seen a worm with two arms, two hands, and a smiling face? Herman the worm is a unique creature, and sadly, not many people are friendly towards this little guy. After scaring Ms. Walker so badly that she passes out and drives her car off the road, Herman is about to give up on humankind when he meets sweet Petunia and her father. The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm by Sam Baker follows an unlikely duo that comes up with all sorts of shenanigans and has lots of laughs.

This heartwarming story is absolutely wonderful. There are so many important messages in this book and life lessons that kids can learn from. Acceptance is the main message in this charming book. Many people try to get rid of Herman the moment they see him. Mr. and Mrs. James scream when Herman lands on their windshield, and they try whatever they can to get rid of him. Ms. Walker faints at the sight of Herman even though he smiles and waves, trying to look as friendly as possible. Only sweet and kind Petunia, who is not deterred by his appearance or strangeness, accepts him for who he is.

Another amazing message in this book is change. Change is inevitable and scary. For kids, this is a lesson that's learned the hard way. Herman goes through a big change, and this scares Petunia, her father, and their family friend, Emma. But it soon becomes clear that this is just a natural part of Herman's lifecycle.

The illustrations by Ann Hess in the book remind me of classic children's books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? The style is akin to realism using chalk or acrylic paints, and the grainy texture gives the pictures a more cartoony look. I like this style best when there is a lot of detail and focus on the subject of the illustration. A great example of this is the first illustration of Mr. Wilson, whose expression of admiration for his prize green tomato is very apparent in his raised eyebrows and pursed lips. I found it funny that Herman starts calling Emma's Daddy, "Daddy" because that is what Emma refers to him as.

The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm is a light-hearted and well-meaning book. There are many life lessons for kids to learn through reading about Herman and his adventures.

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I love this book! Herman shows me that I can do anything!

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Oh, what a lovely book! It is so sweet that a father wrote this for his young daughter and son. When the whole world is struggling to accept those different from ourselves and accept the parts of ourselves that we may see as different, this book shows the way. What more could we want in a bedtime story? I highly recommend this book for yourself and any children in your life. Five stars! Susanne Lucas

From the Publisher