Thorny the Horned Toad

Thorny the horned toad lives in Odessa, Texas where the hot and sandy desert is the perfect habitat for him. His favorite food are the little harvesters ants found in the rural areas. Horned Toads also indulge in eating other tasty insects. He is a friendly and fascinating little guy. If he feels threatened he will change his color to blend in with his surroundings. With his three best friends he goes on adventures during playtime. His friend Lindsey Brown, decides to take him with her when her family moves to another State. She decides not to tell her parents, because she worries that they will not allow her to take him with them. The same day they arrive at their new home, Lindsey meets the new neighborhood kids. She invites them over to play in her new backyard. There is a treehouse and a fun playground, they play until sundown. After playing, she goes inside she to check on Thorny. She finds him looking very sad, so she takes him outside to see if that makes him feel better. This new environment does not suit him at all, so Lindsey has to ask her parents for help. They find out that close by there is a Wildlife Refuge that is willing to take him. The outcome is perfect and Lindsey learns several lessons from her mistakes.

The Author grew up in the West Texas desert in a semi rural community, where dodging dirt devils and picking up insects and other animals native to the area was her favorite thing to do as a kid. Visiting her great grandparents ranch, Ranch Portales where there was also a variety of animals is also one of her best memories. The Horned lizards fascinated her, so she would spend hours just watching and interacting with them. With this little story she is hoping that it motivates kids to pay attention to animals and insects that live in their own backyard.Walter Parenton is an illustrator from Texas, where he lives with his wife Lisa and two dogs- Benson and Stark. Nature and wildlife inspire each and everyone of his works.