Willy the Woolly Worm focuses on teaching children about ecology and the environment. Its protagonists-Sarah, Selah, Elijah, Sammy, and Lexie-are outside playing on a beautiful fall day near their home in North Carolina when they stumble upon a caterpillar. Never having seen one before, they decide it's a "woolly worm." As they admire its striking brown and black fuzzy bands, they dub the worm "Willy."
A local mountain man passing by shares in their enthusiasm and teaches them more about caterpillars and the meaning of Willy's bands-and how to tell from the grouping of brown and black bands whether the coming winter will be harsh or mild.
Through the wonder of the children, readers discover this little-known secret about the animal kingdom. Willy will encourage kids to explore the world around them and ask questions about things that intrigue them. Your children will want to find their own woolly worm and see its special power themselves!
Author Joe Sinclair has spent his career educating children and understands their love for nature and their thirst for knowledge. He has channeled that educational experience into creating interesting, fun children's books like this one that the whole family can enjoy.
About the Author: Joe Sinclair holds a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University, two master's degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, an educational specialist degree from Western Carolina University, and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Sinclair has devoted his life to furthering young people's education through diverse roles at various regional levels. He spent more than twenty years as a superintendent of schools in various North Carolina school districts and in 1992 was selected as North Carolina Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina School Boards Association.
Sinclair has published two other children's books: Lulu the Snow Goat and Queenie and Little Joe. He is an avid marathon runner, remarkably completing more than two hundred marathons after the age of sixty-two. Sinclair has written two additional books on education and three on athletic success.
Sinclair lives with his wife, Claryce, in Statesville, North Carolina.
