Armando and the Amazing Animal Race

By: Schaffter, Diana

2026 Green Earth Book Award - Gold Winner

2026 IBPA Book Award - Middle Grade - Gold Winner

Can a 12-year-old boy and his fearless grandmother outrace extinction?

Armando never expected to spend his summer racing around the world with his eccentric grandmother. But when they join the second Amazing Animal Race-a globe-spanning eco-adventure to photograph seven endangered animals in just 70 days-he quickly learns Granny D is full of surprises.

Armed with night vision goggles, bear spray, and help from his tech-savvy friend Jinny, Armando is determined to follow in the footsteps of his mother, a wildlife photographer who vanished on the first race. But the trail she left behind leads him to secrets far bigger than the race itself.

From the icy Arctic to the steamy Amazon, every danger Armando faces brings him closer to the truth - as he rescues an injured Siberian tiger, dodges poachers' bullets, and survives a deadly encounter with a cobra.

For Armando, the race is more than a photography contest. It's his chance to solve a baffling family mystery, rebuild family relationships, and protect animals and the environment.

This coming-of-age tale of family, mystery, and wildlife conservation will inspire young adventurers aged 8-12 to see the world and themselves in a whole new light. Filled with thrilling action, laugh-out-loud moments, intergenerational characters, and exciting bonus content:

● 3 full-page maps

● more than 58 realistic illustrations

● cool animal facts

● discussion guide

Armando and the Amazing Animal Race is a thrilling, page-turning adventure that touches the heart.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1069079502
• ISBN13: 9781069079503
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Sea Otter Press
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7