THE ARMADILLO WHO CAME FOR DINNER

An armadillo discovers that he may be armor-plated, but he doesn’t have to be thick-skinned.

This unusual friendship trio—Little Lamb, Wolf, and Omelet the alligator—get an unexpected visitor, yet again. The three have just sat down to a lovely picnic when suddenly a boulder crashes through their tasty spread. But it’s not a boulder—it’s a rolled-up armadillo who smacks into a tree. Little Lamb invites the dizzy friend home for dinner to recuperate. She offers a hug as well, but Dizzy refuses, peevishly replying, “I’m a tough armadillo, so I don’t need hugs, thank you very much.” During Dizzy’s stay, Little Lamb offers more hugs, with tiny woolen arms stretched out wide—comforting ones and congratulatory ones—but Dizzy rebuffs each hug. He’s too tough for those. Until, that is, Little Lamb finds herself in a tight spot, with a real boulder crashing toward her. Dizzy saves the day and just might accept a grateful squeeze from a friend. The sixth installment in this U.K. series is a bit meandering, but it's sweet nonetheless. The expressive animals display a range of emotional states, from joy at one another’s company and unsteadiness after a bonk on the head (complete with unsteady eyes) to concern when one of them takes a tumble.

A lighthearted lesson in letting down barriers.