Tick Busters Children’s Educational Literature Series Released

November 9, 2019

In our continuing efforts to teach children, parents, educators, and school nurses about the dangers of tick bites and tick-borne diseases, NatCapLyme debuted its new series of educational literature on Lyme and tick-borne disease prevention at the annual Commonwealth of Virginia School Nurses Association’s conference on November 9 and 10, 2019. This was our fourth year of supporting this important conference.

The Tick Busters series consists of a storybook, a membership/tick ID card, a brochure, a coloring/activity book and a rack card. Since NatCapLyme feels that education is your best defense to prevent Lyme and tick-borne diseases, the series heavily focuses on teaching children how to prevent being bit by a tick. Beautifully designed and illustrated, the graphics and storylines lend themselves to kids in grades kindergarten through middle school. The booklet, Tick Busters: Wanted Dead or Alive, was written by a committee of seven dedicated teachers and advocates who have been directly impacted by Lyme disease.

This storybook was dedicated to Joey DiLello, a young man who courageously fought but ultimately lost his battle with Lyme disease. The book opens with the following poem:

Winter, spring, summer or fall, 

In every season, ticks are on the crawl.

Joey and his friends are on the ball

Searching for Tickula, the scariest of all

So, pay attention

Because this story is about prevention.

Join Joey and his pals as they mention

One wicked tick who deserves detention.