Tuesday, December 29, 2015

I Don't Like Snakes by Nicola Davies - ADVISABLE

Davies, Nicola   I Don't Like Snakes  Illustrated by Luciano Lozano. 29 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2015. $15.99. NONFICTION

A girl telling her snake-loving family why she doesn't like snakes leads to lots of explanations and facts about snakes. The book utilizes one typeface for the family discussion and a different typeface for additional information. When she says she doesn't like them because they slither, the family explains why they slither, and how they slither, and how else they move. Their "icky" slimy skin is actually dry, covered with a shiny, transparent outer skin that they shed when it gets too small. Their discussion eventually leads to snakes' scales, tongues, eyes, and eating methods. By the end, the "don't" in the girl's attitude has been crossed out, and she even shares what she's learned about their babies. Facts have replaced fear, and the girl now appreciates their beauty. With drawings of the fictional characters usually on the left and realistic pencil drawing of snakes and snake parts on the right, this book also contains an index. The book contains great information about snakes, but may not have enough non-fiction kid appeal for wide interest.

EL (3-5) - ADVISABLE. Reviewed by P.K.Foster, teacher- librarian

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