Customer Reviews

Venom (Junior Library Guild Selection)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can see the pitch for this book now...

(Author walks into a room. Sitting at a desk in a large leather office chair sits a skeptical publisher)

Publisher: An entire book about things that have venom? Sorry, but I don't think you've got the makings of book here.

Author: There are more venomous animals than most people realize, I think.

Publisher: (Slightly Annoyed) Right, snakes. Look, we have enough snake books at the moment. If you don't mind, I'm very busy now-

Author: Wait! There are more. There's snakes, sure, but there's also spiders and frogs and -

Publisher: Okay, so there are three animals. Still, it seems like a stretch.

Author: And bees, and salamanders, and -

Publisher: Hmm. I guess I never thought of those other ones.

Author: And ants, and scorpions, and -

Publisher: Alright! I was wrong. It seems that there are a ton of animals that kids find fascinating, that also happen to be deadly. You got me. Tell me more.

Author: Here's what I'm thinking: tons of quality information, plenty of color photos of the venomous animals in action, and a healthy dollop of weird/crazy sidebar stories to grab readers' attention. What do you think?

Publisher: Yes, Yes, it's genius! Those pesky reluctant readers will love it for the exotic animals, exciting pictures, and crazy facts. Teachers will love it for the high quality information. I think that we've got a hit on our hands! A quality non-fiction selection if I've ever seen one.

Author: (Polishing fingernails on shirt) You're welcome.

The boys had already checked this book out of library several times, and wanted their own. I should have got two as they both want it at the same time.

Great Book! Very informative about things to avoid that can kill you, or make you very ill.
Illustrations are very good.

This is a wonderful book for the young scientist or adventurer in your family. Don't let the cover fool you, it's not just about snakes. Venom is chocked full of facts and trivia about the venomous critters around us and those that inhabit other parts of the world. Whether it is on the ground or under it or in a tree over it, in the water or in a desert, on an island or a continient, this book covers them all. No child should miss having this book read to them or read it themselves and the pictures are amazing.