Outside and Inside Snakes [Paperback]

Sandra Markle (Author)

Book Description

Series: Outside & Inside

A perennial favorite of the very young, snakes take the spotlight in this richly informative and beautifully photographed book. The enthusiastic text explores both the outside of snakes and their insides. Full-color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?A remarkably perceptive introduction to the ever-fascinating slitherer. The text succinctly describes the physical characteristics common to all species, anatomy, hunting and feeding techniques, use of venom, skin shedding, locomotion, camouflage, senses, and birth of young. Most useful are the clear explanations of how the snake's form and structure affect its daily activities. Simple comparisons between human and snake anatomical features help elucidate the discussion. This title offers more detail on bodily functions than is currently available in other books. For instance, it describes how a snake breathes, digests food, and eliminates wastes. One or two sharp, full-color photographs serve as extensions of the text on almost every page. They include shots of some of the internal organs of a dissected snake and some brilliantly composed pictures of various snakes in the act of swallowing small animals (they give every appearance of enjoying their food). Eighteen species are depicted. There are some minor omissions. While the text describes a snake's body temperature and its need to soak up heat from the ground or air, it does not employ the term "ectothermic," or even "cold-blooded." Although hibernation is discussed, the term itself is not mentioned. Reproduction is outlined, but the text does not explain how snakes actually mate. Joanna Cole's A Snake's Body (Morrow, 1981) covers many of the same topics (a diagram shows all the major internal organs); however, the information is not as detailed as the Markle title and is illustrated with black-and-white photos. With its strong emphasis on anatomy and outstanding photography, Outside and Inside Snakes is a fine offering.?Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. Another in Markle's excellent Outside and Inside series, this volume presents the ever-popular subject of snakes. The accessible text is precise, detailed, and enthusiastic as it describes snakes' bodies and behaviors in terms that children will understand. Exceptional full-color photographs show snakes hiding, hunting, eating, fighting, moving, hatching from their eggs, and shedding their skin. Photos of snake skeletons and innards show the interior structures of the animals. The last page includes questions for children to consider and activities that teachers might use to extend the book. Presenting intriguing information in an appealing way, this book belongs in many libraries. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689819986
• ISBN-13: 978-0689819988
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,778,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

SANDRA MARKLE

Sandra Markle is the author of more than 200 books for children, such as A Mother's Journey (Charlesbridge, 2006), How Many Baby Pandas (Walker, 2009), The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs (Millbrook, 2011), Butterfly Tree (Peachtree Publishing, 2011). She has won numerous awards for this work, including Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book, SB& F finalist, John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers, Junior Library Guild Selection, Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, Charlotte Zolotow Award, and MORE.
She was honoured with the title of "Best of Children's Non-Fiction" Georgia Author Of The Year award five times and was named one of 1999's Women of the Year by Women in Technology International for her contributions to science and technology.

In addition to her books, Sandra Markle has developed science specials for CNN and PBS. She is also noted for developing On-Line Expedition: Antarctica, one of the first on-line educational programs and continued adding further on-line reports from Antarctica while working on book projects in 1996 and 1999 as a grantee for the National Science Foundation's Artists and Writers Program.

Reviewers have heaped praise on Markle's books, including:
Outside and Inside Bats "The author presents a particularly felicitous accord of words and pictures in an outstanding science book for the primary grades." The Horn Book Magazine
Outside and Inside Alligators "This newest installment of the Outside and Inside series adds another fine book to a top-notch series." Bookselling This Week, a Kid's Pick of the Lists
Outside and Inside Dinosaurs It's like sitting down with a dinosaur expert who happens to be a great teacher." The Horn Book Magazine

Sandra Markle remains proudest, though, of the praise she has received in fan mail from children. She's happy to fulfill the requests of the young readers that urge her to "please write more."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I liked this book because it was cool. Jeff S - age 6., September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Outside and Inside Snakes (Paperback)

From Jeff - Age 6: This book has excellent pictures of snakes eating stuff. It is cool because one snake has a horn (a rinocerous viper). Snakes smell with their tounge. The book has a picture of a snake squeezing a mouse. Some snakes can digest shells and some spit them out. Snakes can eat something bigger then their head. Some snakes have venom and fangs. I learned a lot about snakes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good children's book, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Outside and Inside Snakes (Outside Inside) (Hardcover)

This book is easy-to-read, informative, well-illustrated, and fun. Both of my children loved it, and so did I! If you're looking for a science-oriented snake book for a young child, you scarcely could do better than this one.