Don't Ever Cross That Road

A teacher armadillo holds class on the dangers of crossing roads, covering armadillo biology, prehistoric ancestors, and diet along the way — while one distracted student in a red baseball cap seems not to be paying attention. Conrad J. Storad's rhyming verse is musical enough to make read-alouds fun, and the gentle twist ending delivers the safety message without frightening young children. Back matter with a 'Words to Learn' section and factual armadillo biology notes give teachers and curious parents something extra to work with. Nathaniel P. Jensen's colorful illustrations celebrate Southwest wildlife warmly. The honest caveats are that the regional focus on a Southwest animal limits broad appeal, and as a small-press title, formal critical review coverage is thin — though Scholastic distribution suggests positive educator reception. For nature-curious kids and Southwest classroom use, it is a charming and well-constructed picture book.