Snakes
By David T. Greenberg
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

   David Greenberg really has a handle on fears...and sets the right tone to deal with them. The boy and his dog are certainly brave enough to wrestle squid, or to hunt werewolves in the dark, but they really are afraid of SNAKES! The child's imagination sees a hundred-thousand snakes; they are everywhere. There are snakes of every size and type heaped under the bed and on the stairs, and absolutely everywhere. By the end of the story the little boy seems to have conquered his fear and is using snakes in very innovative ways: cleaning his ears and playing tug-of-war.

   Greenberg's funny rhyming style really appeals to kids, and it's fiendishly fun to read aloud to little ones. Lynn Munsinger's terrific watercolor illustrations are hilariously imaginative. Every time you look at each illustration, you see a snake that you missed before.

   Reading this book aloud helps kids put their fears in perspective, and will help to open discussions during family time.