Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-5. From the opening series of questions (Can you climb a tree without using arms or legs? Snakes can ) to the final page on Snakes and People throughout history, this fascinating book offers an excellent introduction to the subject. Well researched and vividly written, the text surveys the wide variety of snakes in the world and explains the unusual behaviors that characterize various types. Even children who think they know all about snakes will probably learn something new here: constrictors cause death by pressure on their victims' hearts; venomous snakes can bite without releasing their poisons. Sometimes showing dramatic scenes, sometimes presenting seldom-seen details, Henderson's excellent watercolor paintings mirror the text to illustrate both physical characteristics and behavior. With this handsome addition to the series that began with Dinosaurs! Strange and Wonderful (1995), even readers fearful of snakes may find the subject a little less strange, a little more wonderful. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-5-In this concise overview, short paragraphs describe these remarkable reptiles' major physical and behavioral characteristics and highlight some distinctive traits of several different species. An addenda outlines snakes' role in world mythology, their ecological importance, and efforts to preserve their habitats. More than three dozen species from around the world are depicted in the realistic watercolors. Two-page paintings showcase some snakes, while smaller, boxed illustrations offer views of others. Captions provide their common names and average sizes. The narrative is well organized and clearly written. Pringle's book covers the same topics as Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's Slinky, Scaly, Slithery Snakes (Walker, 2000), but in more detail, and Henderson's watercolors are more precise regarding body shapes and coloration. While Seymour Simon's Snakes (HarperCollins, 1992) offers more information on growth patterns, snake families, and egg-laying behavior, Pringle's volume provides more facts on senses and depicts a greater number of species. With its crisp writing and profuse illustrations, it will please both browsers and report writers.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This book covers how snakes see, smell, reproduce, and kill and consume prey larger than themselves. Realistic watercolors depict snakes in their intriguingly adaptive forms, colors, and shapes. Along with the clear text, the illustrations draw attention to the variety of snake movement: up trees, over hot sand, in water, and even through the air. This is a useful and engaging resource. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The author of more than 100 books for children and teens has produced another winner in this attractive compendium of intriguing snake facts. As with other titles in the Strange and Wonderful series, the author fosters an appreciation of all living things as he focuses on unusual features of his subject. Here he describes how snakes move, hunt their prey, avoid enemies, and survive in a variety of habitats. He introduces a few snakes from around the world, including boomslangs, cobras, rattlesnakes, and boas. Full-color drawings on every page are dramatic and visually satisfying. Many drawings extend the text, for example, the illustrator includes a series of drawings to show how snakes move or shed their skins, and magnified drawings to show different types of snake scales. The author concludes with an afterword on people and snakes. This handsome science title will slide off the shelf. (Nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
