DILLO is a delightful first chapter book for children ages 6 to 10. The story is about a baby armadillo who was born with a birth defect–a permanent smile. Because of the attention she was getting, her jealous sisters took her deep into the Bailey Tract wildlife refuge and left her lost and alone.

       On her sometimes frightening, often fun, and always educational journey home, Dillo learns she can make many friends, turn fear into courage, test her knowledge of the   environment, and forgive those who meant her harm. This is not just a story of survival, but one of friendship, bravery, trust, and wisdom.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

   "Dillo is a teacher’s and a parent’s dream. The story is enthralling! Kids and grown-ups alike respond to Dillo’s conflicts, but above all that, Dillo skillfully teaches a wealth of environmental information about all of her friends who live in the Bailey Tract world. As if that wasn't enough, there are incredible illustrations!"
     — Dr. Sidney B. Simon, PhD, author of "Helping Your Child Find Values to Live By" – Values Press.

   "I couldn't have asked for a better text to use in our classroom. The kids couldn't wait for read aloud time! They were always eager to hear more. I could tell that they all seemed to relate to the problems in the story and made wonderful connections to the characters. It is so refreshing to find a book that I know will never go out of style and will always remain a positive influence in the lives of my students!

    — Rebecca Silva, Sowams School, Barrington, RI

   "The kids loved the book! I am using it to generate ideas in literacy centers for the kiddos. It is a wonderful tool for generating writing themes."

    — Kris Powell, Paraprofessional II, St. Ann, MO

"I just finished reading Dillo. How charming! It is an excellent book for adults as well as children. All those wonderful "life-lessons" about emotions and friendship and character and forgiveness. Each chapter is a gem that can lead to conversations with a grandchild. And the lovely pictures gently capture each of the characters. Thank you for sharing your gift!"
   — Carol Moran, MSW, Wilmette, IL

"A delightful and creative story that is full of great animal facts! This is a very useful teaching aid for both formal and non-formal educators to use."   — Toni Westland, Environmental Education Specialist, J. N.Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel,FL

"The book, DILLO, may be for the 6 to 10 year old set, but it held my attention from its first pages to the happy ending. It's a charming book. I know that lovely seemingly effortless writing isn't easy to achieve, and the beautiful illustrations and the way the whole book is put together — it's a great job! Good luck with "Dillo! It deserves all the accolades it's getting."

— Estelle Fox Kleiger, author

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