The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club
by Daniel San Souci
A real-life tale from a treasured children's author.
Article with photo of Dan holding snake at:
From School Library Journal
"Grade 1-4–An appealing tale based on the author's childhood. While
on vacation, each of three brothers finds something special: Bobby discovers
a bone (he is sure it belongs to a Tyrannosaurus rex), Mike fills a jar
with tadpoles, and Danny catches a snake. When they return home with
their treasures, their friends greet them excitedly, and they decide
to start a new club. After redecorating their headquarters and collecting
more creatures, the boys charge the neighbors admission to see their
collection. The snake gets lost while their mom has guests, and children
will enjoy the ensuing chaos. Eventually, all of the animals are freed.
The concluding page offers great promise, for the boys discover a meteor,
and begin another club, Space Station Mars. Throughout the story, readers
see how well the youngsters work and play together, and allow their imaginations
to take them on a super adventure. The cartoon illustrations are bright
and colorful, and the characters' exaggerated facial features emphasize
the humor of the text. The nostalgic mood of the artwork, which depicts
clothing and cars from the 1950s, sets just the right tone for the story." –Deborah
Rothaug, Pasadena Elementary School, Plainview, NY
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