The Snake Who Was Afraid of People
9780938663164
32 pages
Rainbow Morning Music
Overview
This book was endorsed by the National Humane Society and later reprinted in the National Wildlife Federation’s magazine for children, Your Big Backyard. People Magazine also wrote about this book and the underlying themes of both of Barry’s snake books, saying, “we should trust our instincts.” This color edition is a great sequel to Polisar’s earlier tale, Snakes and the Boy Who Was Afraid of Them and reveals the deep-rooted feelings of a snake who is afraid of people. His fears prove well-founded when he is captured by a school-aged child and held captive in a jar with little air. A humorous scene ensues when the boy is at school and the boys mother tries to get rid of the snake, whacking at it with a broom. The snake manages to escape and goes into hiding, aided by a group of beret-wearing reptiles who are really operating underground. The picture of the snake, disguised as an elderly man waiting for the bus, is delightful; his tail is subtly wrapped around the bus stop sign for support. “Polisar’s work,” writes The Sunday Deseret News, “could be, line for line, the most entertaining literature in the business…thoroughly outrageous.”
Author Bio
Barry Louis Polisar is an author, songwriter, poet, and story-teller for children who also writes songs and books for adults. He performs his songs on two different Grammy Award-winning albums and sings his song "All I Want is You" in the opening credits of the Academy Award winning movie Juno. Barry’s songs are featured in television shows, feature films, and dozens of TV ads throughout the world. His books and poems have been translated into other languages and his songs have been recorded and performed by singers and musicians internationally. He has written songs for Sesame Street and The Weekly Reader and starred in a television show for children that won two Emmy awards. A five time Parents’ Choice Award winner, Barry is a pioneer in the world of music for children. He has recorded and shared his songs, poems, stories, and books with audiences throughout the world and has performed at The White House, The Smithsonian, and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He gives concerts and author visits in schools and performing art centers from Washington DC to Fairbanks, Alaska and was given a Special Library Recognition Award for his “ability to communicate with and excite children to read.” His work has been featured on National Public Radio and written about in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, and People Magazine.
