Armadillos may look funny, move oh-so-slowly, and smell a little stinky but readers can learn how extraordinary they are in this Step 3 book! Did you know that armadillos can jump three feet in the air to scare away predators? They can hold their breath underwater for 10 minutes, and they’ve been known to eat 40,000 bugs in a single meal! Follows a female armadillo as she forages for food, builds a home, and prepares for the birth of her baby pups while learning quirky and cool facts about the amazing armadillo! Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics--for children who are ready to read on their own.

Introduces the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the nine-banded armadillo.

A shell of bony plates covers an armadillo's body. This dense Òbody armorÓ protects the animal, but it also makes swimming difficult. To avoid sinking in water, an armadillo must inflate its stomach with air! In this book, children will learn about the diet, habitat, and unique look of the armadillo.

A thrilling guide to the Cenozoic mammals of South America, featuring seventy-five life reconstructions of extinct species, plus photos of specimens and sites. South America is home to some of the most distinctive mammals on Earth—giant armadillos, tiny anteaters, the world’s largest rodent, and its smallest deer. But the continent once supported a variety of other equally intriguing mammals that have no close living relatives: armored mammals with tail clubs, saber-toothed marsupials, and even a swimming sloth. We know of the existence of these peculiar species thanks to South America’s rich fossil record, which provides many glimpses of prehistoric mammals and the ecosystems in which they lived. Organized as a “walk through time” and featuring species from fifteen important fossil sites, this book is the most extensive and richly illustrated volume devoted exclusively to the Cenozoic mammals of South America. The text is supported by seventy-five life reconstructions of extinct species in their native habitats, as well as photographs of fossil specimens and the sites highlighted in the book. An annotated bibliography is included for those interested in delving into the scientific literature. “Well-written and easy for the nonspecialist to understand, this is also a most needed updating of this subject, much in the line of classic works such as Simpson’s The Beginning of the Age of Mammals in South America and Patterson and Pascual’s The Fossil Mammal Fauna of South America.” —Richard Fariña, coauthor Megafauna: Giant Beasts of Pleistocene South America “This handsome book, written by a leading expert in South American paleontology, is profusely illustrated with maps, time charts, color photographs of fossils, and exquisite life reconstructions. The book . . . will appeal to any individual, young and old alike, interested in the fossil record, as well as to students and scholars of paleontology who work in other parts of the globe.” —Choice

What animal has a hard shell, sharp claws, and a long tongue? An armadillo! But do you know what armadillos eat? Or how armadillos protect themselves from predators? Read this book to find out! Learn all about different animals in the Animal Close-Ups series—part of the Lightning Bolt BooksTM collection. With high-energy designs, exciting photos, and fun text, Lightning Bolt BooksTM bring nonfiction topics to life!

"Simple text and full-color photography introduce beginning readers to nine-banded armadillos. Developed by literacy experts for students in kindergarten through third grade"--