Black Mambas

February 1, 2018
Grades K-2 Snakes take center stage in this addition to the Reptile World series. Venomous snakes and strangling snakes get equal page time in these four volumes, which are structured for the early reader: bold, colorful (and sometimes gruesome!) photos are the focus, offset by a straightforward text that utilizes action words and simple vocabulary. By contrast, Black Mambas showcases an extremely quick snake, whose black mouth warns other animals about its venom. Early readers are further assisted by each volume's final picture glossary, which will help them to visualize potentially unfamiliar terms, and a diagram of each snake and its surprisingly varied parts. The high-interest topic (and the images that show the snakes devouring their prey) will attract readers, while the upbeat tone will help alleviate the fears of fledgling researchers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)