Overview

Two unlikely teammates on a grueling continent-hopping race to 7 countries.The Mission: photograph 7 endangered animals in just 70 days!. . . and solve a family mystery.Ages 8 to 12: with 3 full-page maps and 58 illustrations!Twelve-year-old Armando never expected to spend his summer vacation racing around the world with his eccentric grandmother. But when they team up for the Amazing Animal Race, a grueling competition to snap photos of seven endangered animals in just seventy days--he discovers that Granny D is full of surprises! Armed with night vision goggles, bear spray, and online support from his tech-savvy friend Jinny, Armando and his adventurous Granny embark on a quest across seven countries that will push them to their limits. From the icy Arctic to the steamy Amazon, Armando gains confidence as he faces ruthless race rivals and close encounters with rare and sometimes dangerous creatures. But the Amazing Animal Race is more than just a photography contest. For Armando, it's a chance to solve a baffling family mystery, rebuild family relationships, and develop his passion for animals and helping the environment. Packed with thrilling action, laugh-out-loud moments, and unforgettable characters, ""Armando and the Amazing Animal Race"" takes readers on a whirlwind journey of self-discovery across the globe. This heart-warming, coming-of-age tale of family, mystery, and wildlife conservation will inspire young adventurers to see the world and themselves in a whole new light. This book will appeal to fans of the ""National Park Mystery Series"", ""The Explorer Academy"" (National Geographic), ""The Lost Whale"" and ""Hoot"". Ideal for: Middle-grade readers hungry for mystery and edge-of-your-seat adventure. Animal lovers and budding conservationists. Parents, grandparents, and educators who are looking for stories with positive messages about family, global-mindedness, and the environment. And anyone who's ever dreamed of traveling the world. BUCKLE UP FOR A THRILLING ADVENTURE--GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY! (Caution: May cause extreme page turning excitement and sudden urges to explore the world!) ""I couldn't put the book down. I felt like I was actually with Armando the whole time. . . and the imagery was insane."" Ayla D. (Australia) age 13

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9781069079503

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Reviews

""A whirlwind of an environmentally minded tale. . . the fast-paced narrative takes Armando and Granny D from a dangerous encounter with a mama polar bear. . . to a poignant experience in Brazil as Armando learns to stand up for himself and what he believes in. . . an exciting international adventure for young environmentalists."" --Kirkus Reviews: ""Our Verdict: √ GET IT!""""An intricate, thoughtful coming-of-age novel. . . The prose is whimsical, and its descriptions of each new setting, person, and creature are evocative. . . As a hero, Armando is involving, and his passion for animals is infectious.""--Foreword Clarion Reviews (Four Star Review) "". . . fantastically engaging story. . . [Diana's] writing is absolutely terrific, and I love Armando, who is such a wonderful protagonist, perfect for a Middle-Grade novel. The story of the race and Armando's search for his mother as well as his renewed relationship with his father are so well drawn and authentic (super fun as well as poignant) The story's environmental focus is wonderfully handled. . . All in all, you have something very special here.""-Jennifer ReesEditor, Explorer Academy series, National Geographic

Author Information

Diana is no stranger to adventure. She is fluent in Thai, has traveled to over fifty countries, raised her two sons overseas, and lived in seven countries in Asia and Eastern Europe for forty-two years, including two years in Pyongyang, North Korea, where her husband was the head of the UNICEF office. Diana has worked with Cambodian refugees, taught in international schools, opened schools in Thailand and Vietnam, and has been an educational consultant to non-governmental organizations and the Ministry of Education in Laos. In researching her story, she followed in the footsteps of her main character, Armando, traveling to Southern India to search for wild cobras with the Irula tribe, to Vladivostok, Russia, to see a Siberian tiger with a local conservationist, to the home of the elusive desert leopard in the Judean desert in Israel; and into the thick Brazilian Amazon rainforest to visit an Indigenous tribe and to photograph a pied tamarin monkey. Wherever she has lived, Diana has witnessed the power of human resilience, cooperation, and caring, which inspires her writing. Diana and her co-adventurer husband, Tim, now live in Sidney, BC, Canada, where she continues to write, give talks in schools and communities, and work with young people.

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