Diana Schaffter, a Sidney-based author, is still trying to let it sink in: the success of her debut novel, Armando & the Amazing Animal Race, which has soared to the top of Amazon's bestseller lists in both Canada and the United States.
Released on May 20, the novel has captivated readers, reaching audiences as far afield as the UK, Italy, Germany and India.
"Wildly inventive, imaginative and inspiring," a review on Amazon read. "Couldn't put it down," stated another.
The book's five-star popularity in the 'extinction and endangered species' category underscores its core themes and resonates with readers seeking adventure with a message.
"I feel particularly happy with this category because the book was geared to help kids learn about the situation with endangered animals," she said. "I'm elated it's connected with that category."
According to Schaffter, young readers across the globe have responded enthusiastically to the book's exploration of environmental justice, climate change and the plight of endangered animals. She believes the novel offers a compelling alternative to purely digital forms of entertainment.
“They have discovered that the world, with all its human diversity and natural beauty, can be just as fascinating as the digital world of fantasy,” Schaffter explained. “This should give us all much hope.”
Armando & The Amazing Animal Race follows the adventures of 12-year-old Armando from Vancouver. The story sees Armando embark on a continent-hopping race with his eccentric grandmother to photograph seven endangered animals in a mere 70 days.
Shaffter's own life experiences served as the inspiration for Armando’s globe-trotting adventure.
Her travels with her husband, who worked with UNICEF, took her to numerous countries, including Brazil, India, Thailand, North Korea, Israel, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. While living abroad, she was a teacher in international schools.
"I found that a lot of my students had become so connected to the digital world that they had disconnected from the real world," Shaffter observed.
Recognizing the dominance of video games and fantasy literature in children's media, she felt compelled to reconnect them to the beauty and wonder of the real world in an engaging and entertaining way. This sparked the initial idea for Armando & the Amazing Animal Race.
While Schaffter has previously published several picture books, this is her first novel, a project that took many years to complete.
The author emphasized the importance of thorough research in crafting an accurate and compelling narrative.
“I asked people from different countries, including conservationists, to review the book,” she explained. “It had to go through many forms, and it took a lot of research, but I felt it was really important to do it well.”
As part of her research process, Schaffter also enlisted 26 children from 11 different cultural backgrounds to read the book and provide feedback.
“What I found amusing is how this one animal keeps coming up when I ask them which animal they like the most," she shared with a laugh. "The kids picked the four-toed jerboa constrictor. It looks like a mix of different animals – it has the ears of a rabbit, the tail of a tiger, legs like a kangaroo, a face like a rat’s, but it adapts very well to the desert habitat."
When asked about the lesson she hopes readers will take away from the jerboa, Shaffter replied, "Even though you might feel like you can't do everything that you can, adapt to your situation and be resilient."
As of May 23, Armando & The Amazing Animal Race remains a top contender on Amazon's bestseller list, currently holding the #2 position, just behind Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Eastern & Central North America.
