Sneed B. Collard III's Most Fun Book About Lizards

Gr 4–6—The author's quirky sense of humor is an unusual element in this solid introduction. The text, written in a breezy, conversational style, describes the physical and behavioral characteristics of a typical species (the western fence lizard—dubbed "Joe Lizard" here); profiles four of the best-known varieties—Komodo dragons, Gila monsters, chameleons, and iguanas; and presents overviews of the reptiles' diets and feeding methods, defense mechanisms, regulation of body heat, and courtship and egg-laying behavior. The last few chapters outline threats to saurian survival, survey about a dozen different species, and discuss popular lizards' unsuitability as pets. Joking comments, usually anthropomorphic in nature and silly enough to coax a chuckle from even the most serious of readers, appear frequently. ("During courtship, males put themselves on display. They drive fancy cars or flash wads of cash. Sometimes they wear gold jewelry. Just kidding.") Well-composed, sharp color photos of representative species illustrate the text on almost every page; many are close-ups. Sidebars with additional information on characteristics, habitats, etc., are scattered throughout. Collard's title offers more detail on feeding habits and temperature control than other introductions to the subject, and its warnings about the pitfalls of choosing lizards as pets are particularly valuable. It will be a good companion to Nic Bishop's less-detailed, but beautifully photographed Lizards (Scholastic, 2010), aimed at a somewhat younger audience.—Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library