Friday, 2 May 2008

New Zealand Post Book Awards finalist - Junior Fiction category

Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, illustrations by Gavin Bishop

The chapters in Snake and Lizard are essentially short stories about a pair of unlikely friends. Each story is a little parable told with spare language and humour.

Snake and lizard argue and enjoy different things in life and yet they still have fun together and are able to come to many compromises.

Describing this book in such a way makes it sound dry as dust, but this is a fantastic book. It is gorgeously produced, the pictures are wonderful and the stories are extremely suitable for reading to the class. The children will laugh at every story.

Published by Gecko Press

Reviewed by Beth


35 comments:

EnnaVic said...

My then 6yo was given this for Christmas and really enjoyed it. He even chose it to vote for in the awards :)

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the awsome chapters in this book because the snake and lizard are very different.They become friends and set aside there differences and become quite close,so close that snake moves into lizards house.My favourite chapter is business chapter because snake and lizard try to sell food and drink but in the end snake buys all lizards drink and lizard buys all snakes food with the coin that snake found.Together they both learn the process of business.In the end they both enjoyed what they had learnt about business.I thought that it was a realy neat book and you can learn something new you no nothing about and also have fun while you are doing it.

Maggie-Rose,St.Josephs School,Te Kuiti,N.Z

Courtney Johnston said...

Thanks Maggie-Rose! That's a fabulous review!

EnnaVic said...

Just saw your competition post and thought we should add our school as we didn't above,

My son also wanted to add that the stories reminded him of Frog and Toad stories (Arnold Lobel) which he loved when he was younger.

Our school is: Pinehaven School, Upper Hutt

Diana, Flaxmere School said...

I enjoyed this book too.

springston.sch said...

a really funny enjoyable story

Gills said...

This book is a winner with Room 5 (yrs 1/2) children at Bluestone School. They enjoyed having the stories read aloud in the library and many of them have borrowed the book since. One student took the book home for the holidays to read to his grandmother. He said she thought the book was 'Wow'.

Libby said...

It is really cool and funny

Springston School

Jahna said...

It was different from other books I have read, in a cool way.

Springston School

Matthew said...

I think the book is fantastic
Springston School

Katie, Taupaki School, Auckland said...

Snake and lizard is a hilerious book. I like how there was always a problem but they managed to work things out. I also liked how there was a moral at the end of each story. It is a very good book and I recommend it.

Neve said...

I liked the way the pictures were drawn.

Springston School

Gemma said...

I liked the pictures

Springston School

Tessa said...

I liked the way they were friends and helped each-other.

Springston School

Sara said...

Each chapter is like it's own story

Springston School

Elliot said...

I like how the snake and lizard compromise.

Springston School

Hamish A said...

I liked how the story was written.

Springston School

Annabelle said...

I like how it was funny at the end of each chapter.

Springston School

cashman said...

it was extremly good it was funny and nice to read





Cardinal Mckeefrys school

cashman said...

it was realy good and I realy liked it





Cardinal mckeefrys school

cashman said...
This post has been removed by the author.
cashman said...

I loved it so much it was well done in every way





Cardinal Mckeefrys School

cashman said...

thankyou for making this book I loved it so much




Cardinal Mckeefrys School

cashman said...

it was great to read such a well done book






Cardinal Mckeefrys School

cashman said...

I enjoyed this book so much it was a delight to read it I like how snake and the lizard become friends I thought that was just wonderful and put all there differences aside and were closer than ever it was realy great I realy enjoyed that the snake moved in to the lizards place and also like how the snake and the lizard start to sell food and drinks I thought that was the best chapter


Cardinal Mckeefrys School

cashman said...

thanks for creating this book it was so nice





Cardinal Mckeefrys School

cashman said...

it was funny and well illistrated and was well done





Cardinal Mckeefrys school

Anonymous said...

I got this book for Christmas .I really liked the bit when Snake gets a frog in her throat and Lizard slaps her on the back and then Snakes supper hops away !


Katherine W
St Mary's School
Blenheim

ohuka said...

Great book!
Ohuka School.

ohuka said...

We loved it when the skunk crossed the river of death and we thought the pictures were brilliant.
Ohuka School.

Jacinda Watson said...

This book has been used by another teacher at our school for a unit of work and the children really enjoyed it. A wonderful enjoyable book!

Jacinda Watson
Prebbleton School

Anonymous said...

I chuckled and chuckled when I read this book. It is really great!
Kay - Te Wharau School, Gisborne

Khandu Patel said...

Thanks Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop. This is a very funny collection of mini stories that make up a chapter book. My year 4/5 class have thoroughly enjoyed having the stories read to them and we have all had a laugh out loud at the expense of snake and lizard. We have also had some thoughtful discussions around the various themes like friendship and honesty. The short chapters have also led to conversations about the authour's inferences. Khandu Patel, Dyer Street School, Lower Hutt.

Anonymous said...

read this to my children aged 6 and 8 and they loved it.

Marion said...

Loved the comments about this book - I'll be looking for it!