Rattlesnakes

Children's Literature

Snakes are creatures of fascination or revulsion for children of all ages. This colorfully illustrated, 90-word book for young readers captures the essence of its subject. A close-up photo of the snake's head, mouth stretched wide, fangs bared, followed by a photo of its mouth closed tight on a rat's throat enhance the book's "yuck" factor. Its consultants, the staff of the Black Hills Reptile Gardens, confirm the accuracy of the book's contents. A glossary, index/word list and Internet sites encourage readers to explore further. This book is part of the "Rain Forest Animals" series. 2002, Pebble Books/Capstone Press, Ages 4 to 8.
—Ellen R. Butts