Why Do Snakes Hiss?: And Other Questions About Snakes, Lizards, and Turtles

Description

Many people like snakes, lizards, and turtles, and there's so much to find out about all of these scaly-skinned animals. Are all snakes poisonous? Why do snakes shed their skin? What unusual things can lizards do? Do lizards ever lose their tails? Why do turtles have shells? Kids will find the answers-and much more-in this fun, fact-filled introduction to reptiles. Filled with colorful photographs and illustrations, this is just right for any reptile lover.

The reason I'm a children's book author/illustrator today is that I have a lot of determination. I practiced drawing and revised my stories over and over because I wanted nothing more than to do what I'm doing now--writing and illustrating children's books.I always knew I'd become an artist and studied art in college in Texas. After graduating from college, I became an Art Director at a graphic design firm. I moved from Texas to New York to work in children's publishing. I got a job as Associate Art Director in children's books at Scholastic, where I designed books and enjoyed working with editors and illustrators. This was excellent experience.I illustrated my first children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I had always written stories, but I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990's. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap) -- both published in 1997.Now I write and illustrate full time. It is a great job. When I think of a idea, I write it down so that whenever I finish one story I'll have a bunch of ideas waiting that I can begin working on next. I especially love reading and writing funny stories, weird stories, and animal stories.Books I've written and illustrated include-Cinderdog and the Wicked Stepcat Albert Whitman, 2001 (ages 4-8, picture book) Abby Cadabra, Super Speller, Grosset & Dunlap, 2000 (ages 6-8, easy reader) How to Find Lost Treasure in All Fifty States and Canada, Too Aladdin, 2000 (ages 8-12, NF) The Haunted States of America Aladdin, 2001 (ages 8-12, NF) Vincent Van Gogh- Sunflowers and Swirly Stars, 2001 Grosset & Dunlap (ages 6-9, NF) Happy Monster Day! Scholastic,1999 Pen Pals Grosset & Dunlap, 1997 (ages 6-8, easy reader) Ivy Green, Cootie Queen Troll, 1998 (ages 7-9) Red, Yellow, Green What Do Signs Mean? Scholastic, 1998 (ages 4-8) Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book Scholastic, 1997 (ages 1-6) Eek-A-Boo! A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book Scholastic, 2000 (ages 1-6)Books I've written include-I Have A Weird Brother Who Digested A Fly, Albert Whitman, 1999 (picture book) Light the Candles, A Hanukkah Lift the Flap Book, Puffin, 2000 The Garden That We Grew Viking/Puffin, 2001(ages 4-7, easy reader) The Pizza That We Made Viking/Puffin, 2001(ages 4-7, easy reader) Scat Cats! Viking/Puffin, 2001(ages 4-7, easy reader) Backwards Day, Scholastic, 2000 Why Do Dogs Bark? Puffin, 2001(ages 6-8, easy reader) Why Do Cats Meow? Puffin, 2001(ages 6-8, easy reader) The Spooky Sleepover, Grosset & Dunlap, 1999 (ages 6-8, easy reader) Pajama Party Grosset & Dunlap, 1998 (ages 4-7, easy reader) Space Dogs on Planet K-9 Troll, 1998 (ages 7-10)Books I've illustrated include-Breakout at the Bug Lab Dial, 2001(ages 6-8, easy reader) Hector's Hiccups Random House, 1999 Shadows Everywhere Scholastic, 1999 Hot Cha-Cha! Winslow Press No Fair! Scholastic, Hello Math The 100th Day of School Scholastic Ten Little Ballerinas Grosset & Dunlap I Love You Mom Troll I Love You Dad Troll My First Book of Sign Language TrollAnswers to questions people sometimes ask me-1. Where do you get your ideas?I get ideas many different ways. Sometimes, ideas just pop into my head. I also listen to and watch the people around me for ideas. I read to get ideas. I daydream to get ideas. When I get an idea, I write it down in an idea notebook, so I won't forget it. I think ideas are the easy part of writing. I get lots of ideas for books all the time. Developing them into a book with a beginning, middle and end is the difficult, time-consuming part. The idea is important, but an