What others are saying about this book…

From Amazon.com:
“Why should an armadillo NEVER cross a road? Because he may never get to the other side! In this delightful book, a teacher armadillo tells his class about their prehistoric ancestor—a glyptodont weighing nearly two tons. He describes where armadillos live, how they spend their time, and what they like to eat for lunch. And he cautions them about the dangers of crossing the road. But one student in a red baseball cap isn’t listening—or is he? The book features an armadillo fact section, and a "Words to Learn" glossary. Don’t Ever Cross That Road! is packed with information. Conrad J. Storad’s musical verse and Nathaniel P. Jensen’s charming pictures make this book a special treat for every young reader.”

Absolutely delightful...
“Don’t EVER Cross That Road! is a sweet story you won't mind sharing with your child again and again. The illustrations are first rate. Each page has its own color palate as the story progresses from evening to dawn (armadillos are nocturnal, after all!). My three year old has a new best friend! The publishers also did a great job on the printing. The images are crisp. The colors jump out at you. This is a great book for kids or for adults who are collectors of picture books.”
-- Joseph H. Tait -- Austin, Texas

Great story. Great illustrations…
“Not only is this delightful book instructional but it is also great fun for both children and adults. Kids really respond to the illustrations which animate the story. Definitely a keeper -- one you will want to read and look at over and over.”
-- A reader from Austin, Texas

A wonderful science lesson…
“This book by the author of Don't Call Me Pig! (A Javelina Story) and Lizards for Lunch (A Roadrunner's Tale) is a wonderful blend of whimsical rhyme and natural history lesson. Young readers (or listeners) will love following the antics of a red-capped armadillo student as his teacher armadillo lectures a restless class all about their history, biology, habitat, and most importantly, the dangers of crossing the road! Bringing the words to life are Nathaniel Jensen's delightful illustrations--the expressions on the little armadillo’s faces are priceless.”
-- Southwest Book Girl – Phoenix, Arizona

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Lizards for Lunch
(A Roadrunner’s Tale)

Author’s Comments:
The deserts of the American Southwest are home to some of the most unique and interesting creatures and plants found on Planet Earth. The feisty little Roadrunner is one of those creatures. Forget the ostrich-looking bird that many people grew up watching on Saturday morning cartoons. That's not a Roadrunner. About the size of a skinny chicken, real Roadrunners are clever creatures that are not afraid to tangle with rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpions, or any of the many species of lizards found in the desert. My book gives you the real scoop on this fascinating bird. I tell you the story straight, but in rhyme, to make if fun for everyone. In the back of the book, parents will find two pages of natural history facts about the Roadrunner. Read those pages and you'll become a Roadrunner expert in five minutes. Artists Beth Neely and Don Rantz bring my words to life with their brightly colored and wonderfully detailed illustrations. Their water color paintings provide readers a true feel for the beauty of Arizona's portion of the Sonoran Desert. Together, Beth, Don, and I have tried our best to provide children and parents with a visual feast as well as an ample supply of brain food. Enjoy!
-- Conrad J. Storad, Author

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Don’t Call Me Pig!
(A Javelina Story)

Author’s Comments:
Arizona's portion of the Sonoran Desert is home to some of Planet Earth's most unique and sometimes bizarre creatures. The sharp-toothed, bristly haired javelina is just one of them. It's also one of the most misidentified creatures in the desert. It is not a wild pig! Stop calling it a pig! Javelinas are not even related to pigs, unless you go back more than 60 million years. Javelinas are peccaries. Pigs came to North America with the Spanish explorers in the 1500s. Javelinas have their own story. My book gives children the straight scoop, in rhyme. Older readers (and parents) will find the last two pages chock full of javelina facts and natural history. While the kids are running around the house or classroom screaming "Don't Call Me Pig!" parents and teachers can spend five minutes to become experts on these interesting creatures. Artists Beth Neely and Don Rantz bring my words to life with their richly colored, superbly detailed, and whimsical illustrations. One thing is certain, after you read this book, you will never, ever refer to a javelina as a pig again. Enjoy!
-- Conrad J. Storad, Author

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Little Lords of the Desert
(Arachnids and Insects)

What others are saying about this book…

From Amazon.com:
A valuable primary classroom resource…
“As a teacher of second and third graders I am constantly looking for resources that my students can use while researching science and social studies topics. One of our course of study requirements is to study animals and their habitats. Since we live in Ohio, it is difficult to find information about the desert. Little Lords of the Desert provides accurate information written at an appropriate reading level. My students also gain information from the realistic drawings of the animals. This is a valuable resource that should be a part of every primary classroom library.”
-- Elementary school teacher from Tallmadge, Ohio

Author’s Comments:
Little Lords of the Desert is a coloring/learning book that describes 26 insects and spiders that make their home in southwestern deserts. The book features high-quality illustrations of each creature along with informative text. The book is bound like an artist's notepad and printed on recycled paper. My partner on this and three other coloring/learning books is illustrator Donna S. Atwood. She is an award-winning artist and graphic designer with over 25 years of professional experience. Atwood has owned her own design studio for more than 20 years. Her work has won dozens of design awards. She also illustrated and published Rhode Island A to Z, a coloring/learning book all about our nation's 13th state.

To learn more about and/or to order our books and other products, be sure to visit Donna Atwood’s Web site at: http://atwooddesign.com
-- Conrad J. Storad, Author

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[Inside AIDS is available as part of the Accelerated Reader program. See disk number AQ242.]

What others are saying about this book…

From School Library Journal:
Written for pre-teens, teens, and young adults. The books is focused on the biological effects of the HIV virus on the human immune system, Storad offers a detailed scientific perspective on the disease that one does not find in other books on the subject. Whereas most titles tend to view the disease as more of a social problem and concentrate on how it can be combated and prevented, this one presents an in-depth study of the characteristics of the virus and how it invades and destroys the immune system. The author begins with a brief history of the AIDS epidemic, tracing its beginnings in the 1980s through 1995 statistics. The next few chapters explore the virus, how the disease is transmitted, and how it attacks the immune system. Effective but rather gruesome photographs show the outward physical effects of AIDS. There are also numerous color diagrams that outline the structure and characteristics of the HIV virus. The book concludes with a discussion of the different methods of preventing the spread of AIDS and a look at the latest developments in treatments and the search for a cure. The most recent information Storad includes on these developments is from 1997, and he does a good job of explaining technical facts clearly and concisely. A useful update.
Edward Sullivan -- New York Public Library
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From The Horn Book Guide:
Inside AIDS provides a thorough explanation of HIV and AIDS for younger readers

Author’s Comments:
Life is an unending series of choices, some easy, some quite difficult. Young people need to arm themselves with as much information and knowledge as they can hold...then learn how to choose wisely. In the end, each of us is responsible for the choices we make. HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS, does not discriminate. It kills everyone it infects, some quickly, some only after many years of suffering. This book is the result of almost five years worth of research, writing, and rewriting. I reviewed thousands of pages of scientific research and talked with many dedicated medical researchers. The information is as up to date as I could make it before the book went to press in December 1997. Research continues around the world. But the road to an effective treatment or cure for AIDS still looms long into the future. Each of us needs to think about the choices we have. Each of us has the power to prevent HIV from infecting us or the ones we love.
-- Conrad J. Storad, Author

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What others are saying about this book…

From Amazon.com:
Much more than a coloring book…
“I thought I knew a lot about the natural history of the Sonoran Desert until I read this book. As a longtime former Arizona resident I spent many hundreds of hours hiking the Sonoran Desert backcountry, often with the author himself. There's not much text in this book, but Storad has packed it with interesting facts. And Donna Atwood's illustrations are both technically accurate and artistically pleasing. I wish they made coloring books like this when I was a kid.”
-- Steve Koppes – Science Writer, University of Chicago

Teachers, put this book to work in your classrooms.…
“I love this book! The descriptions are really good, and the illustrations are incredible. My daughter is drawn to its pictures and we're able to use it like flashcards to identify animals here in the Southwest. To call it a coloring book is an injustice. Teachers should use this book in their classroom.”
-- Bill Fessler – Publisher, Phoenix, Arizona

Author’s Comments:
Sonoran Desert A to Z is a coloring/learning book of 26 plants and animals that make their home in the Sonoran Desert. The book features high-quality illustrations of each plant and animal along with informative text. It can be used as a beautiful coloring book, a useful classroom learning tool for young readers. or as an inexpensive field guide for desert explorers. The book is bound like an artist's notepad and printed on recycled paper.

In 1999, Sonoran Desert A to Z won the Glyph Award from the Arizona Book Publisher’s Association as “Best book from new Arizona publisher.”

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What others are saying about this book…

From School Library Journal:
“Clear full-color photos on each page and crisply informative texts with simple sentences are the signatures of Tarantulas and other titles in Lerner Publications’ Early Bird Nature Book series. All of the books include a section for adults on related activities. …The high “ick-factor” of these hairy arachnids creates a heavy demand for titles, and a previous dearth of material makes a new book helpful indeed. Attractive, informative, and useful.”
--Patricia Manning -- Eastchester Public Library, New York
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc

From The Parent Council:
“Tarantulas and other titles in the Early Bird Nature Book Series are sturdy, informative chapter books. They are good reference books for young readers. Sharp photographs and large easy to read text make these books super kid-friendly.”

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What others are saying about this book…

From School Library Journal:
“The information in Storad’s books is carefully and logically organized.”

From Appraisal:
“The titles in the Early Bird Nature Book series are beautiful and useful resources for students interested in animals and unusual plants. Adults and children will find much interesting information about these appealing creatures here. . . . Scorpions, Tarantulas, Saguaro Cactus, and other titles in the series are thorough, well-written, and extremely interactive.”

From Amazon.com:
Outstanding Book for young readers…
“I am a third-grade teacher who ordered this book for my class. I live in the warm climate of Morocco, where dangerous scorpions are very common. My kids are absolutely fascinated by this book, and it is one of the most popular books in my class. Scorpions is one of the best animal books for children that I've ever seen, as are all the other books in Lerner Publications’ Early Bird Nature Series. In 48 pages, there are 42 outstanding, full-color photographs. The enlarged text is perfect both for reading to a child, or for a child to read to himself. The language and book design are perfect for a child between Grades 2 and 4, but quite interesting even for me, an adult! I highly recommend this book for your child. It will give you hours of fascination reading together. It would also be an excellent edition to any school library. I purchased the library-bound edition, which is both attractive and tough.”
-- A teacher and reader from Marrakesh, Morocco

Author’s Comments:
Scorpions rule the desert night. Complete with a venomous stinger-tipped tail and powerful pincers, scorpions love to feast on insects and other members of their own kind. Dangerous? They can be. A bit of common sense allows humans to coexist with these ancient creatures, as they have for thousands of years. Learn more about an amazing arachnid that has crawled the Earth in all kinds of habitats for millions of years. Use my book as brain food. These creatures are worthy of respect, not to be feared. Photographer Paula Jansen's images give the reader an up-close and personal look at several species.
-- Conrad J. Storad, Author

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What others are saying about this book…

From School Library Journal:
“Written for readers in grades 3-5. Saguaro Cactus is an excellent introductory guide to an amazing plant. The book is inviting in appearance, fun to read, and the information is carefully and logically organized. Starting with a map and a short list of scientific terms, Storad gives a vivid picture of cacti in general, with an emphasis on how they adapt to their seemingly inhospitable environment. The chapters describing the life cycle and longevity of the saguaro are particularly effective. The text is illustrated with clear, full-color photographs. A “Notes to Adults” section gives tips to parents and teachers about ways to use the book with children.”
Steve Matthews -- Foxcroft School, Middleburg, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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