Armadillo Ray

Book Review:

Myths have been used to explain things about the world that we do not understand. This rings true for the desert animals of Armadillo Ray. This delightful folktale about a young armadillo named Armadillo Ray is appropriate for early elementary school-age children. Armadillo Ray lives in the southwestern desert and is curious about the moon and its different shapes. He decides to ask the other desert animals about the moon. Each animal has a different opinion about the moon and why it is in the sky. The snake believes the moon is a serpent that did not like people and so moved to the sky. The owl's belief is based upon modern science. Armadillo Ray knew the owl was wise and he believed him, yet to Armadillo Ray it seemed the moon was a big shining armadillo curled up in the sky.

The illustrations by Peggy Turley are very colorful, bright and fun. She has used many geometric shapes in her drawings that reflect the geometric shapes used by the peoples of the southwest in their arts. The pictures, drawn in oil pastels, support the storyline and reflect the desert landscape.

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