My Pet Lizards

Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan

This lively and informative addition to the "All About Pets" series shows and tells us just about anything that we might want to know about the experience of caring for pet lizards. Focusing on two types of lizards that make the best pets (bearded dragons and chameleons), we learn from 10-year old Jamal, a dedicated lizard-raiser, how he cares for and enjoys his pets. Useful information on feeding, habitats, illnesses, handling tips, and mating is presented using a first person conversational text and many fascinating color photos. An index, bibliography, glossary, and list of resources are included.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Jamal, a fifth grader from a pet-loving family, narrates this lucid guide to keeping lizards. After briefly describing the physical and behavioral characteristics of bearded dragons (he owns two) and their natural habitats (Australia), the boy suggests where to purchase them and offers tips on choosing healthy specimens. He then explains what equipment is necessary to provide the right kind of environment for the reptiles, how to maintain the proper temperature and humidity within the cage, appropriate diet, how to handle lizards, and how to recognize signs of illness. In a separate chapter, Jamal discusses their characteristics and points out the ways in which their care differs from that of bearded dragons. In the final chapter, the budding herpetologist describes his attempts to breed his pets; so far, no eggs have hatched. Interspersed within the main text are six pages of facts. Clear, full-color photographs show how responsible pet owners should handle their animals. Although the book focuses on specific kinds of lizards, the information is basic enough to be useful for owners of a variety of species available in pet stores. This logically organized, practical title will be a welcome addition to the pet sections of most libraries.-Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.