An Armadillo in Paris

Arlo is a young Brazilian armadillo who likes to travel and have adventures. His grandfather was also the adventuresome type and left his collection of travel journals to Arlo. When Arlo reads his grandfather’s journal about Paris, one of his grandfather’s favorite cities, Arlo decides to go there and try to find the Iron Lady that his grandfather wrote about so much in that journal. Arlo begins, as the journal suggests, at the Arc de Triomphe, then follows the path his grandfather had followed on his tour of Paris, stopping for a croissant, window shopping on the Champs-Elysees, and visiting the Louvre among other stops.

The art work by author and illustrator Julie Kraulis is the real strength of this picture book for young elementary school children. The armadillo is cute and will be attractive to children. The story is a bit weak, though, without a strong arc or an engaging tale. Children will be exposed to a few French words and phrases and a handful of places of import, but little else of the city of Paris. There is a page listing some interesting tidbits about the Eiffel Tour at the end of the book.