Four Anxious Armadillos

(Paperback)

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Description

Did you know that there are twenty-one different kinds of armadillos in the Americas Imagine that you are an armadillo, a little armored one, you would have hard-armored bands on the outside, but lots of fear and anxiety on the inside. Meet Nilda, the nine-banded armadillo who works her way through Argentina on a quest to cure herself of anxiety. Along her journey, she befriends three species of armadillo, the pink fairy armadillo, the three-banded armadillo, and the screaming hairy armadillo. Sounds crazy, right But it's true. The new friends share similar anxieties as they trek across the Pampas, the rainforest and the great Iguazu Falls. They encounter a jaguar, an anaconda, a gaucho, and a wise sloth and finally face their anxieties and fears together. Witness the power of friendship in this delightful chapter book that will whisk you away on an adventure across Argentina. As you travel with Four Anxious Armadillos, you'll get some advice from a wise sloth, learn some anxiety coping skills, pick up some Spanish words, a little geography of South America, and learn fun facts about four very unique anxious armadillos.

Reviews

"As a children's librarian, I am able to quickly and easily spot a book children will love and enjoy. The Four Anxious Armadillos is one such story. This book will be a valuable asset in any classroom or children's library. The characters in this book are quite lovable and incredibly endearing. Nilda, Pel, Adelina, and Hilario will speak to the hearts of anxious children and will provide valuable lessons for overcoming their own anxiety. Children will surely find themselves wishing they were part of this friendship quartet and their ensuing adventures. I am honored to have been chosen to read an advanced copy and I look forward to introducing these delightful armadillos to children in my own library." --Brandye Roland, School Librarian, Brazosport ISD

"As a children's librarian, I'm always looking for a book that is fun, engaging, and that opens the door to further study. Four Anxious Armadillos fits the bill. Lauri Cherian's appropriate mixture of Spanish phrases into the text adds a happy challenge for teacher "read aloud" time (much to the delight of bilingual students). The author's inclusion of information about the four species of armadillo is great, but I would anticipate a stampede to the non-fiction section to learn more about, not just the animals, but the magnificent setting of the journey. The storyline is simple, but timely to the extreme. Each armadillo has its own unique anxiety, along with a coping mechanism. Their mutual quest to overcome their individual fears succeeds, as they help each other. What a terrific springboard for teachers, parents, counselors, even the kids to discuss issues that cause stress and anxiety. If I wasn't retired, this book would find its way into my collection. In fact, I may just gift it into the collections of our local schools." --Raymond Wells, Media Specialist, Brazosport ISD, Retired

Author Bio

Lauri Cruver Cherian is a writer and an educator, teaching English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education to children and adults for 30 years. She is a native of Washington State but has been transplanted to South Texas for the last three decades. When she isn't writing, Lauri enjoys teaching adult ESL in her community, volunteering at the planetarium, participating in community theater, singing, playing the piano, and traveling. Lauri and her husband have three adventuresome grown children. She is the author of two books of poetry: Poems of the Point is a tribute to growing up on the beach in the Pacific Northwest and Brave as Thistles, a collection of poems about becoming brave through life's speed bumps and adventures. Four Anxious Armadillos is Lauri's first children's chapter book and reflects her love for travel, languages, and educating children.