Ellis Coffey loves animals. He spends so much time outdoors that sometimes he thinks he can talk with them. When he discovers a caterpillar that seems to follow his directions, he knows he has a chance to win the annual Woolly Worm race. The prize money is $1,000—exactly the amount of the deductible for his dad's back surgery. If Ellis can train his woolly worm to be the fastest in the country, while dealing with a crush and a bully at school, he's sure can solve all his family's problems.