A new book of stories about the daily adventures of the popular Snake and Lizard. Snake is elegant and calm, and a little self-centred; Lizard is exuberant and irrepressible. Even though they're opposites, they are good friends. With its wisdom, acceptance and good humour, Snake and Lizard captures the essence of friendship. The stories are beautifully illustrated by Gavin Bishop in the warm and clear colours of the desert.

Reviews

Gr 2-4-Unlikely friends Snake and Lizard are back in this story collection from New Zealand. The pair continue their adventures together, whether that means hunting for hard-to-get food, arguing over the fate of a spider living in their doorway, or continuing to provide "Helper" services to other animals. While some plotlines from Snake and Lizard (Kane/Miller, 2008) are brought up but not explained (such as the friends' role as "helpers"), for the most part, this book can stand alone. It includes more stories directly linked together, such as the selections about the attempts of the friends to put together a suitable memorial for Ear Bent, a rabbit killed while daring to take on the "monsters" that travel along the "River of Death." The book remains unflinchingly honest in its portrayal of the natural world. The matter-of-fact tone used to describe animals eating and being eaten, as well as descriptions of desert life, brings the setting to life for children. The thick, off-white pages and small illustrations in muted colors create a pleasant individual reading experience. With its more sophisticated subject matter, short chapters, and clever dialogue, it also make for a satisfying read-aloud.-Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.