04 Pigtoes, Pumas, and Pimplebacks

Pigtoes, Pumas, and Pimplebacks At school, Judy wiggled all during Math in the morning. She squirmed through Spelling. At last it was Science. "Over half the world's plants and animals are found in rain forests," Mr. Todd said. "Which is why it's so important to protect the rain forest. The health of our whole planet depends on it. But did you know that there are endangered species right here in Virginia?" Endangered species! Right here in Virginia! Judy leaned forward in her seat. "If we want to take care of our planet, it helps to begin in our own backyard. That's why I'm

asking each of you to adopt an endangered animal from Virginia this week. Tell us about the species, why it's disappearing, and what can be done to help." Adopt an animal! She could help an endangered species. She, Judy Moody, could help save the entire state of Virginia! Mr. Todd was shaking a coffee can. "Each slip of paper has the name of one endangered animal on it. When I call on you, come up and take one slip of paper from the can. Who wants to be first?" All hands went up in the air.

"Rocky." "Shenandoah salamander!" said Rocky, reading his slip of paper. "Frank Pearl." "Monkeyface mussel!" Rare! Judy waved her hand in the air like a flag. Mr. Todd still did not call on her. Brad got the bald eagle. Hailey got the puma. Randi got the leatherback sea turtle. "Jessica Finch." "Shiny pigtoe," said Jessica. "Yippee!" Judy could not think of anybody else who would want to adopt a pig's toe. Only Jessica Finch. Jessica Finch liked everything about pigs. Even shiny pigs' toes. While Mr. Todd called out more names, Judy

turned around and said to Jessica, "A shiny pigtoe is a pig with nail polish!" She cracked herself up. "Judy Moody." Judy turned around, her hand the only one still left in the air. "One left," said Mr. Todd. "C'mon up."

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Finally! Judy unfolded the small slip of paper. "Northeast beach tiger beetle," she read. Northeast beach tiger beetle! A northeast beach tiger beetle was not even an animal. It was a bug. An icketty cricketty old creepy crawly. "If we don't like ours, can we trade?" Judy asked. "I'd like everybody to stick with their choices," said Mr. Todd. "What if we never even heard of it? What if we don't even know what it looks like?" said Judy. "That's the fun of it," said Mr. Todd. "Find out. Go to the library and look at books and magazines. Or search the Web at the computer lab. And this Thursday, we'll be taking a class