Reptiles and Amphibians (Golden Guides) [Paperback]

Hobart M. Smith (Author), Herbert S. Zim (Author), Hobart Smith (Author), James Gordon Irving (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Golden Guides

Describes 212 species of turtles, snakes, frogs, salamanders and their relatives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Golden Guides first appeared in 1949 and quickly established themselves as authorities on subjects from Natural History to Science. Relaunched in 2000, Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press feature modern, new covers as part of a multi-year, million-dollar program to revise, update, and expand the complete line of guides for a new generation of students.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Golden Books Pub Co (Adult); Revised edition (August 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307240576
• ISBN-13: 978-0307240576
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #535,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic for young and old, May 19, 1999

By 

Herb Wetenkamp, Jr. ([e-mail]) (Lake Forest, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reptiles and Amphibians (Golden Guides) (Paperback)

When I was a kid my uncle gave me a copy of this book and it opened up a world which still intrigues me...reptiles and amphibians. Even today I consult the book for info on some lizzard I don't recognize or to see if salamanders actually spend a lot of time out of water. In fact, I'm sharing it with my own nephew now--age 11--who's discovering this new world of life for himself. This book is well-presented and easy-to-use, as well as full of great illustrations that alone make it worth reading through. Profiles of each reptile and amphibian are thorough withough being overwhelmingly scientific. A timeless classic for young or old...one to share over the generations.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is really great!, October 14, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Reptiles and Amphibians: Revised and Updated (Golden Guide) (Paperback)

I got this book months ago, and have read the whole thing about two or three times! I absoloutly love it! It has helped me find out what reptiles I have caught. I definatly reccomend it to anyone who wants to know about reptiles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorite books!!!, September 19, 2009

By 

Thomas L. Ogren (San Luis Obispo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reptiles and Amphibians: Revised and Updated (Golden Guide) (Paperback)

The Golden Book on Reptiles and Amphibians is very well written, well illustrated, and is just one marvelous little book.
When I was a young boy, around First Grade, my mom (who was a librarian at the time) got me all of the different Golden Guides on nature, including the one on reptiles. I used to read this snake, frog, lizard book over and over again, and along with the other Golden Guides, it helped shape my life and my lifetime love of nature...especially for snakes...and lizards.
Today as an adult, I still go out to find and see snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles, salamanders, skinks....this little book was the impetus for a lifelong love of reptiles and amphibians.


I am also a writer (Allergy-Free Gardening, Birthday Boy, Safe Sex in the Garden, The Highway Naturalist, etc..), and a former science teacher, and I recommend buying and giving these books as presents to all children.
You might well strike a spark that will trigger a life long appreciation and fascination with nature.
This book might well also be interesting and useful as a first book on snakes for anyone with a budding interest in wildlife, lizards, fishing, nature. But as with all the Golden Guides....these books are wonderful tools to create interest in young kids.

For adults or teenagers I would recommend a reptile/amphibian book such as one of the Guides from Robert Stebbins, but for kids...the Golden Book is a darn good one to start with. Get each youngster his or her own book, and encourage them to write in the book, to make notes, to jot down dates as to when they first saw each species. This is a very fun, fine book!