Python by Christopher Cheng
Ill. by Mark Jackson. Series: Nature Storybooks. Walker Books, 2012.
ISBN 978 1 921528 60 3.
Recommended. Picture book. Non Fiction. Snakes. I loved Edel Wignell's Bilby
secrets published last year with Mark Jackson's illustrations. And
here is another environmental book, in the Walker series, Nature
Storybooks, this time about the python. With the same distinctive
illustrations, the book gives a detailed look at these reptiles and
their background. The melding of fact and story makes this a memorable
book for younger readers, involved as they are with the tale of the
python surviving in the bush, and at the same time absorbing the
information in different font under the story. All the words are true
and this winning combination will endear readers to these books.
In Python, the work the reptile does during the day is observed
as she tries to catch a bird and misses, then catches a rat, wrapping
her body around it until it can no longer breath, then swallowing it
whole, taking the rest of the day to rest and absorb her meal. Under
each sequence of the story snippets of information about the reptile
are given. When towards the end she lays her eggs, readers will be
carried along with the excitement of finding out about the sometimes
100 eggs and how they hatch and what happens to the hatchlings in their
first few days of life. Each page brings new information keeping the
readers interest alive. The illustrations carry the story along as they
stretch across the page, the mix of media: watercolour, pastel and
pencil, bringing the reptile and its environment to life. Readers of
all ages will find something to like in this book, and with 2013 being
the Year of the Snake in the Chinese calendar, it is sure to be well
used.
Fran Knight