The Adventures of Willy the Hookworm

About the Book

THE ADVENTURES OF WILLY THE HOOKWORM: Is a classic story of a baby hookworm that is reluctant to follow the hookworm way of life even though he is born to be a parasitic worm. Through his adventures he meets another parasitic animal, a tick named Tommy. Like Willy, Tommy is rebelling against having to be bad and hurt other animals just because he happened to be born a parasite. Together they set off to explore how they can do good things in the world. During their search they meet a honeybee named Bonny who becomes their friend. Bonny takes Willy and Tommy to her hive to meet the queen and learn all about the lives of bees. The queen feels that Willy and Tommy might be able to stop the death of the baby bees and her hive from their deadly enemy. Willy and Tommy agree to help the bees by defending the hive against the advancing Verroa mites. After a battle at the entrance of the hive they are able to drive off the mites and save the bees from destruction. The queen then gives them a hero’s celebration and makes them honorary members of her hive to thank them. Willy and Tommy feel happy that they were able to do good for someone despite being parasites.

About the Author

MURRAY DAILEY was professor of Biology, Director of the Ocean Studies Institute and teacher of parasitology at California State University, Long Beach, until retirement in 1992. He is the author of numerous scientific papers, book chapters and books on parasitic animals and their diseases. He is also the author of a recent memoir The Worm Chronicles. This is his first book for children. In this book he introduces young readers to a baby hookworm named Willy who is reluctant to be a parasite and with the help of his friend Tommy the tick, sets off to do good in the world by saving honey bees from death and destruction from their deadly enemy.