Lizards FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
As the largest group of reptiles, all lizards are cold-blooded and have scales. They are found globally except for Antarctica and come in a variety of unique forms. Some lizards hibernate, some are legless, some are born live and many are nocturnal. A flap-neck lizard's eyes can move in two different directions at once and the tiny gecko can walk upside down because of special bristled pads on its feet. The largest of the lizards is the vicious komodo dragon, which can kill and eat even large animals. The only venomous lizard in the United States is the Gila monster while the monitor lizard is feared by people in Asia. The chameleon avoids predators by changing colors for camouflage while the collared lizard flees from danger by running on its hind legs. The lizard's tail can be used as a weapon and often stores fat, but it can be shed in order to escape. Today, many of these interesting creatures are threatened by habitat destruction, hunted for food or for the pet trade. Awesome colorful photographs accompany the text. As part of the "Animals, Animals" series, each book contains an index, glossary and additional references. Mattern's book is interesting and informative and would be useful in a classroom library. 2002, Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish, $22.79. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Laura Hummel AGES: 8 9 10 11 12
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Illustrations and text are skillfully blended in these broad introductions. Each large-print text briefly describes basic reptile characteristics; the major physical and behavioral characteristics of its subject animals; and special traits, diets, and geographical locations of eight particular species. Each one also gives an overview of how the animals are viewed in the folklore and mythology of different cultures, and outlines their relationship with humankind today. One or two sharp, full-color photographs appear on about every other page, and extended picture captions supplement the texts. More than two dozen species are depicted in Lizards and a diagram of basic anatomy is provided. Snakes shows over a dozen species and offers several diagrams-two on anatomical features, one on locomotion. A few boxed inserts with miscellaneous facts also appear sporadically in each title. Both texts have appealing formats, and are well organized and clearly written; most scientific terms are defined as they appear. While these titles cover much the same general information as Susan Schafer's Lizards (Benchmark, 2001), Claudia Schnieper's Snakes (Carolrhoda, 1995), and Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Snakes (Atheneum, 1995), Mattern's and Ruth's titles focus more on the characteristics of individual species and describe them in more detail. Libraries with a heavy demand for materials on these popular reptiles will find these books to be useful additions.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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