Book Review -- Giant Snakes (Module 4)

Non-fiction book by Seymour Simon

1. Bibliography

Simon, Seymour. GIANT SNAKES. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2006. ISBN 0118854108.

2. Plot Summary

Boa Constrictors and Pythons are the giant snakes of our world. This book describes and explains details about these two types of giant snakes. The reader finds that these snakes differ from each other in some ways - the boa gives birth to live young, while the python lays eggs which she guards until they hatch. These snakes are very much alike in other ways, such as their physical characteristics - they both lack outside ears and eyelids. Many facts are presented about the diet, hunting techniques, habitat, and size of these snakes. Full-color photographs of these snakes are provided on every page.

3. Critical Analysis

This book, written as a Level 2 reader for elementary grades 1-3, provides an overview of giant snakes, which are the boa constrictors and pythons of our world. The average lifespan of these snakes is an example of a question that this book does not address, focusing instead mainly on the birth, size, and eating habits of various giant snakes. Still, many interesting facts about these snakes are presented. The book concludes with the reassurance that attacks on human beings by giant snakes are rare, and the call to remember that "snakes are neither good nor bad. Giant Snakes are part of the natural life of the countries in which they live."

One page states that "Anacondas are the largest snakes in the world." The following page states that "[t]he reticulated (re-TICK-u-late-d) python of Southeast Asia is the longest snake in the world." It is difficult to determine which snake is the biggest, since it is unclear whether length or width is the determining factor. Despite this seeming contradiction, the idea that these snakes are quite large does come through, many of them approaching or exceeding 30 feet in length.

The photographs do add to the comprehension of the subject matter. There are some fairly graphic images included. One shows a snake suffocating a mouse, the mouse wearing an agonized expression. Another photo shows a boa constrictor giving birth to live young.

4. Review Excerpts:

Science Books & Films review:
"The text is lively, well organized, and clear, with the many facts it presents cleverly woven into the story. The illustrations, which are beautiful, show distinctly the intricate patterns of the snakes' skin. The differently colored pages of the book are attractive, and often the color is perfect for the information presented. The book is easy to read, and there was only one typo to mar the presentation. This book would be ideal for the classroom or the young reader's bookshelf."

5. Connections

This book could be used to supplement a study of reptiles in general or snakes in particular. It could be used in a compare and contrast study of snakes, some being poisonous, some not, some giant, some small, and the like.