Why the Snake Crawls on Its Belly [Hardcover]

Eric A. Kimmel (Author), Allen Davis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

A ladder stands in the Garden of Eden, reaching all the way to Heaven. Adam and Eve go up and down the ladder as they please, singing with the angels and talking to God. When the snake convinces them to sin, the ladder is broken. God and the angels decide the snake’s punishment, but so the snake does not give up hope, he is given the opportunity to periodically shed his skin and start over again. Eventually, the snake may understand his mistake and in the future will take his place next to man on the ladder to Heaven.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-A pourquoi story loosely based on rabbinic commentary that attributes several aspects of snake anatomy to the reptile's punishment for tempting Adam and Eve. Created as the "cleverest, most beautiful of all the animals," Nakhash not only gets them driven out of the Garden of Eden but also causes a rung of the ladder to heaven to be broken, thus separating humanity from the holy presence. After expelling Adam and Eve from paradise, the Almighty decrees that the snake will henceforth crawl on its belly in the dust of the earth, have eyes without eyelids because it looked at evil without blinking, and have a forked tongue because it told lies. On the other hand, because Nakhash accepted guilt, he will be able to shed his old skin, showing humans that it is possible to change one's old ways and become new again. The story is told in a robust style that clarifies the theme. It is all but overwhelmed, however, by the design flaws. The pictures eclipse the text and the small, odd-looking type (every letter is capitalized) is almost lost among pages of swirling, feverish shapes and lurid shades of color, predominately green and pink. In attempting to reflect the text, the illustrator is unrestrained: the transformation of Nakhash to an unblinking, crawling creature is phantasmagoric while the final scene, showing happy children and friendly snakes playing together on the Ladder of Heaven at the End of Days, is overly literal and creepy.

Linda R. Silver, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, OH

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Recipient of the 2001-2002 National Jewish Book Awards finalist in the category of Children's Picture Book. Answers the question: What happened to the snake’s legs? As well as the questions: Why does the snake have a forked tongue? Why doesn’t the snake have any eyelids? Why does the snake shed his skin? Eric Kimmel’s works have won him the Caldecott and his latest work was a Finalist selection in the National Jewish Book Awards. The story shows God’s justice and His mercy and reveals how the snake – and man – are given a chance to "change their skin" and repent their sins. This book has special relevance before the Jewish High Holidays and during the Sukkot holidays, in September and October, when the beginning of the Bible is read in synagogue.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pitspopany Press (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930143206
• ISBN-13: 978-1930143203
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,356,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is well known for the tales he has retold from around the world. Some of his best-known titles are "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" (a Caldecott Honor book), "Gershon's Monster", "Anansi and the Talking Melon", and "The Runaway Tortilla". A former professor of children's literature, he lives in Portland, Oregon.