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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1982)
v\\ys—: —uw V^| -TO ^1 ^ -». Cr Friday, February 26, 19S2 e armadillo A new book explores the secret behind the mammal's popularity by Dennis Prescott Battalion Reporter The Texas armadillo is finally getting the recognition it de serves, in the form of a new book devoted entirely to the armor-coated creature. Jerry and Angela Fannin have written a book called "The Un abridged Armadillo Hand book." It is a collection of facts about the Texas armadillo, in cluding tail-tales, cartoons and photographs. It even has armadillo recipes, including "Gingerdillo Cookies," gingerbread cookies made with an armadillo-shaped cookie cutter. You can find out how to make an "armadillo bas ket," and even how many Aggies it takes to eat an arma dillo. The armadillo has burrowed its way to a spot of honor in Texas chic, right up there with longnecks and country music. It is featured on everything from beer ads to T-shirts. "The Unabridged Armadillo Handbook," which will be out next month, contains what Jerry calls "the legend of the Texas armadillo." As he put it, "It's something that can be handed down from generation to gener ation." The armadillo has burrowed its way to a spot of honor in Texas chic, right up there with longnecks and country music. The Fannins found during their six months of research that a certain mystique surrounds the burrowing mammal. Many people don't like arma dillos, Jerry said, because they burrow into the ground, ruining crops and lawns. However, somebody likes them, he said, as evidenced by an unsuccessful 1981 effort to have the armadillo declared the state mammal. The Fannins are becoming quite adept at writing novelty books. Their first, "Johnnies, Biffies, Outhouses, Etc.," a study of Texas privies, is now in its fourth printing. * "We try to approach things from a human interest stand point," Jerry said. His wife Angela said, "I main tain that people should enjoy what they read. If they don't en joy it, they won't read it." The Fannins insist that writ ing is only a hobby with them. "There is a very hard shell surrounding the publishing world," Jerry said. "We don't consider ourselves to be serious authors." The Fannins are a quiet couple who prefer country living to the hassles of the publishing world. They live in the Harvey com munity, which is about five miles out Highway 30 towards Huntsville, with their 12-year- old son, Blair. By the way, it takes at least two Aggies to eat an armadillo, one to eat, and the other to watch for cars. SIMPLY SENSATIONAL!