They’re slithery and scaly, and they have icky, flicking tongues and creepy, unblinking eyes. What’s to like about a snake? You’d be surprised!

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Author –  Nicola Davies
Illustrator –  Luciano Lozano

This little girl has a problem. Her family doesn’t have dogs, or cats, or birds—they have snakes! And she really, really, really really doesn’t like snakes. Her family can’t understand her dislike, but they can help her understand why snakes do the things they do and look the way they look. And maybe once she knows more, she will start to like snakes a little . . . or even a lot. Packed with snake trivia, this clever story includes realistic illustrations and simple explanations of snake behavior sure to make even slither-phobic readers shed their misconceptions about these fascinating reptiles. Back matter includes a note about snakes, a bibliography, and an index.

The author, Nicola Davies, is a zoologist, and her book contains a wealth of fascinating facts about snakes.   Did you know snakes have no eyelids so they cannot blink?  AND… they use their tongues to smell!   AND…after killing their prey they swallow their victims whole!

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All About Snakes for Kids

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Since snakes don’t have any arms or legs, they use what’s available for them –  their muscles and their specialized scales to move around.

THERE ARE FOUR WAYS  SNAKES MOVE

AND….SNAKES ARE ALMOST ALL BACKBONE!

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MAKE A SNAKE SCULPTURE

MATERIALS – White or colored construction paper, markers/crayons, scissors and tape
1.Design a twisty snake shape making the head and tail long enough so you can twist it at the end.
2. Cut it out.

3. Decorate your snake
4. Twist snake into a figure 8-  Stick the head in the back curve and the tail through the front curve.
5. Tape head and tail in place.
6. Add a tongue.

Thank you for sharing your snakes with us!!!

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And finally, I would like to share a beautiful painting from Namasri Niumim.  Namasri is a wonderful Thai illustrator who lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

“Serpentine”

Painted with gouache

Perhaps Namasri’s “Serpentine” will provide you with the inspiration to create your own painting of a snake in the garden.

Thank you, Namasri, for sharing your work with us.