Snake

Children's Literature

This book is ideally suited to children who own snakes or are considering raising a snake. It is chock full of information about popular types of snakes, their anatomy, behavior, and health. Each two-page spread introduces a new topic such as diet or homes, and includes photos, text, sidebars of interesting facts, and helpful tips for pet owners. The layout has the busy look of a scrapbook with photo captions, traditional text, and colored bullets with "fascinating facts." In addition to covering predictable topics such as the life cycle of snakes, this book does a nice job presenting a wide range of issues including prehistoric reptile fossils and the Medusa myth. Also included are FAQ's about snake ownership ("Are there laws against owning snakes?") and sources for more information including addresses for snake organizations, web sites to surf, and a thorough glossary. Young snake owners will love this book. It is part of the "Caring for Your Pet" series. 2005, Weigl Publishers, Ages 9 to 12.
—Seth Berg