Black Mambas

Snake profiles aimed at beginning readers offer a handful of very basic facts. Relying on one or two short, simple sentences per spread, Murray describes physical characteristics, such as scales, fangs, size, and colors, as well as habitat, prey, and life expectancy. The direct language is appropriate for early readers and briefly covers the most notable qualities of each snake. Well-chosen photographs inject some liveliness. Most images fill the spread, showing the snakes in a variety of situations. Close-ups highlight key features, such as the eyes of the boomslang or the black mamba’s fangs. The majority of the books provide an image of the snake preying upon other animals. Strong selections for new readers of nonfiction.