Lizards at large 21 remarkable reptiles at their actual size

Employing a format like that used in Rodent Rascals (2018), Munro highlights 21 lizards, describing their unique features, noteworthy behaviors, and unusual defenses against predators. Following an introduction that distinguishes lizards from amphibians and other reptiles, she presents species ranging from five-lined skinks (which discard their blue tails to distract predators) to armadillo girdled lizards (tiny dragon-like creatures that give birth to live young) to worm lizards (which live underground and can be mistaken for earthworms) to green plumed basilisks (which can run on water as well as swim). Munro uses India ink and acrylics in illustrations that realistically render the animals at life-size and within their natural habitats. The early pages depict smaller creatures (four to a spread), building to full spreads for larger species (Australian frilled lizards, Gila monsters, and green iguanas) and two full-page spreads depicting sections of a Komodo dragon. Information about each animal is brief, with details guaranteed to pique readers' interests; additional particulars, further reading, websites, and glossary are appended. Perfect for browsers and those craving the gross factor.

Discover the world of reptiles. Munro follows her presentation of life-size coral reef inhabitants (Dive In, 2020) with another informative introduction showcasing 21 lizard species from around the world. Like her many other nonfiction titles for young readers, this one features careful research and thoughtful selections of examples and details that will be both engaging and useful for identification. Lizards, she tells us in an introduction, have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs. They've fascinated humans for millennia. Most are harmless, and their habit of eating insects is helpful. Each depicted lizard gets a life-size portrait and a paragraph of introduction. The smaller lizards appear three or four to a spread, and readers work their way up from the armadillo girdled lizard and the green anole, which range from 5 to 8 inches in length, to the 10-foot Komodo dragon, which requires two spreads (and even then much of the lizard's long tail is left out). In these detailed and accurate ink and acrylic paintings, a bit of environmental context surrounds each example. Useful words are italicized in context and defined in a helpful glossary. The backmatter includes further information about each of the chosen species, including Latin name, length, habitat, diet, bodily and behavioral adaptations, and even nicknames. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A straightforward and appealing introduction. (author's note, books, website, index) (Informational picture book. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.