Tino the Tortoise. Carolyn L. Ahern

      

      Text © 2015 by Carolyn L. Ahern

      Illustrations © 2015 by Erik Brooks

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Ahern, Carolyn L.

      Tino the Tortoise : adventures in the Grand Canyon / by Carolyn Ahern ; illustrated by Erik Brooks.

       pages cm

      ISBN 978-1-941821-45-9 (hardcover)

      ISBN 978-1-941821-59-6 (e-book)

      I. Brooks, Erik, 1972- illustrator. II. Title.

      PZ7.A268779Tg 2015

      [E]—dc23

      2014034699

      Editor: Michelle McCann

      Designer: Vicki Knapton

      Published by WestWinds Press®

      An imprint of

      P.O. Box 56118

      Portland, Oregon 97238-6118

      503-254-5591

       www.graphicartsbooks.com

      The author has designated a portion of her royalties from the sale of this book to be donated to the Grand Canyon Association.

      Disclaimer notice: While the author and publisher have made every effort to provide accurate information in this book, the author and publisher do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omission. Anyone planning a trip to the Grand Canyon should always check first with park service officials and tour operators. The activities in the park are subject to park rules and operator availability and will vary by the expedition. Please refer to: www.nps.gov/grca

      Contents

       Tino the Tortoise

      Tino the Tortoise was fast asleep in his burrow,

      dreaming of his next adventure,

      when suddenly …

      “Tino! Wake up!” It was his friend Rudi, the long-eared jerboa. “I just read in Tortoise Talk that the Kaibab squirrel needs our help.”

      “Why?” asked a sleepy Tino.

      “Penny the Kaibab squirrel wrote that they eat seeds from the cone of the ponderosa pine tree, but they are getting tired of eating the same thing, day after day,” said Rudi. “She asked readers to mail in recipes. I have one to share: roasted pine seeds and honey.”

      “Mmmm, I love those!” said Tino. “How about we take your recipe to Penny in person? It would be an adventure.”

      “But where do we find her?” asked Rudi.

      Tino pulled out a map and found a likely spot:

      Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest.

      “That’s right next to the Grand Canyon,” said Tino. “Why don’t we explore while we’re there? I’ll call ahead and make reservations.”

      “Count me in!” said Rudi.