Welcome to the world of giant pythons, deadly crocodiles and venomous Gila monsters. With their scaly skin and prehistoric appearance, they frighten and fascinate at the same time. Now young readers can come face to face with some of the most exotic — and delightful — reptiles in the world. With amazing, larger-than-life depictions of reptiles big and small, plus the latest scientific information about these ancient creatures, Reptiles offers an appealing mix of learning and adventure. Beautifully rendered illustrations show readers every fascinating detail of the reptiles that live in backyards, deserts, rain forests, rivers and oceans, and the amazing family connections between them. Fledgling herpetologists will discover, for instance, which snakes are harmless and which can inject enough venom into their victims to kill. They will also find out that the familiar painted turtle is related to several exotic giant sea turtles now threatened with extinction. And they'll learn how to handle various kinds of reptiles. Includes facts, lore and a pronunciation guide to help budding herpetologists wrap their tongues around tricky Latin terms.

NAN FROMAN is the author of What's That Bug? She has contributed to dozens of children’s books and edited such bestsellers as Polar the Titanic Bear and Graveyards of the Dinosaurs.

JULIAN MULOCK perfected his drawing skills while working at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto as a scientific illustrator. He created the stunning illustrations in What's That Bug? and his breathtakingly detailed artwork on a wide range of subjects has appeared in numerous books and periodicals.