Prince Mosi, son of Kenjo, king of giraffes, escapes from the royal tower. " He wants fun; he wants friends; he wants freedom. He doesn't want to be the ruler of a vanishing species." Then he meets Monica and admires her beautiful splotches. He discovers that she's strong willed, smart and brave. While he's gone Oskar, Kenjo's cousin, seeks sanctuary in the tower because poachers invaded Vet Vera's preserve. They discover that twins have been born. "If all giraffes had twins, our numbers would double and we'd be out of trouble," Kenjo rejoices and becomes obsessed with twins.. Beruti, Kenjo's brainy pet baboon, reads that nine-banded armadillo has the most multiples and orders Oskar to find one . But there are no armadillos in Africa. What they don't know is that the Armadorables, Texas techies, will help. Can armadillos really save the giraffe species? When Mosi returns with Monifa, together they find the answer. This book contains not only timely big ideas that will appeal to educators: the interdependence of us all, and the need for global cooperation, but information about natural science: genetics, inheritance, and DNA. For readers who like action, there's lots of it. Kenjo battles pretenders to claim his throne; Mosi saves Monifa from a crocadile, Oskar saves Vet Vera from poachers, and Mosi and Monica navigate a labyrinth persued by lions. The animals in the book are anything but cute . They are the predators and prey trying to survive in a hostile environment. There are also humans," man mammals," who threaten their existance, but there are also human healers and protectors. "The Answer is Armadillos---How to Save a Species" isn't easy to classify. It has elements of adventure, fantasy, science fiction and romance, facts and fiction, prose and poetry. Children and adults too find it fun to read and say that they learned a lot. That's why the best way to describe it is pur EDUTAINMENT!
About the Author: Stephanie Leon is a former middle school teacher She has previously published non-fiction with her husband. (google: Burke Leon). She believes in the potential of the younger generation to make a difference by addressing real problems, and uses the young giraffes. Mosi and Monifa, to illustrate this theme. It is ultimately a "coming of age story" about tweens who are unhappy with their lives. "The Answer is Armadillos" deals with a serious issue: threats to enangered species, and ultimately to us. Kenjo, king of giraffes says, "Large mammals are the first to go." The book, written for upper elementary children, address this issue in a light and lively way. The main characters are like her students: they challenge their parents; love music and technology and want the impossible. The story is set in Africa. Stephanie's home is decorated with African art. She says this book was born when the zebra skin, purchased in her clueless youth, ripped, patched and tailless, fell off the wall. It was so fragile, that when she tried to pick it up, it crumbled. Next, she found out that giraffes and okapis were recently placed on the endangered species list and began her research. She has included her own illustrations. Though her training is in English/education, her hobby is drawing. She is also the family poet, and her prose is peppered with interior rhymes and Suess-like short poems. this makes it is fun to read aloud. Though Stephanie comes from a family of scientists, Vera, the vet, also believes in natural remedies. She regards Kenjo with doubt, but unwittingly provides Oskar with information that leads to the solution to the giraffe's plight. She believes that "Nature has a plan/unknown to any animal/unknown to any man" Stephanie says her book can be read on many levels, and is designed to spark students curiouslity and inspire them to read further.