Amazing Armadillos

Armadillos may look funny, move oh-so-slowly, and smell a little stinky but mostly they are extraordinary! For example, they can jump three feet in the air to scare away any predators (especially the human variety), they can hold their breath underwater for 10 minutes, and they’ve been known to eat 40,000 bugs in a single meal.

Amazing Armadillos follows a female armadillo as she forages for food, builds a home, and prepares for the birth of her baby pups. It is perfect for newly independent readers who love to learn fun, quirky, and cool facts about amazing animals, like the armadillo.

Reading on your own

Armadillos may look funny, move oh-so-slowly, and smell a little stinky but mostly they are extraordinary! For example, they can jump three feet in the air to scare away any predators (especially the human variety), they can hold their breath underwater for 10 minutes, and they’ve been known to eat 40,000 bugs in a single meal.

Amazing Armadillos follows a female armadillo as she forages for food, builds a home, and prepares for the birth of her baby pups. It is perfect for newly independent readers who love to learn fun, quirky, and cool facts about amazing animals, like the armadillo.

Children's Literature

Danger! The story of the armadillo begins with a sense of danger as this unique creature searches for food and has to escape the presence of a predator. Upon its escape, the reader learns about the senses used to locate food and the additional dangers of sharing its habitat with humans. Once again, the armadillo avoids capture as it uses its armored shell for protection. The search for food continues as we see what types of food it prefers and how it can obtain ants from within an anthill. From the daily routine, the reader is led through the seasons it encounters in its southern United States' environment, its reaction to cooler days, and finally the birth and raising of its young. To assist the young reader, pronunciation clues are provided as well as a page about the types of armadillos past and present. The illustrations on each page accurately depict the story line and the facts presented are accurate descriptions of this animal and its habitat. This book is a part of the "Step into Reading" series for preschool through grade four. Reviewer: James Rutkowski

Jennifer McKerley is the author of the popular Step into Reading title Man O’ War: Best Race Horse Ever. You can visit her at her Web site at www.jenniferguessmckerley.com. She lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Paul Mirocha has illustrated more than twenty-five books, many of which are about animal and plant life, including Step into Reading’s Platypus! and Hungry Plants. You can visit Paul’s Web site at www.paulmirocha.com.