Lizard Pals

The first five books in the “Pet Pals” series dealt with four-legged pets, namely dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. In these additions to the series, some of the pets are quadrupeds, but others fly, swim and slither.

Like the earlier books, the content of these five books in the “Pet Pals” series is intended to serve as pre-purchase/pre-adoption advice to those considering adding a pet to their homes.

The books’ highly illustrated contents consist of 12 two-page chapters, a 10 question quiz, a “Learning More” page which directs readers to related books and websites, and a closing page that is shared between an index and a glossary of words highlighted in the text. The three pages that are given over to the quiz and its answers could have been much more profitably utilized.

The opening chapter, “Your [name of animal] From Head To Tail”, provides a large full-colour photo of the book’s focal pet. The important parts of the pet are labelled and described.

The following chapter provides a general overview of the various breeds of each book’s pet and describes their “personalities”. Called “Best Lizards for Beginners” in Lizard Pals, this chapter identifies seven lizard species and provides brief information about each lizard type. For example:

Bearded dragonsare friendly and easy to tame. Thy need a large tank heated to a high temperature. They eat insects, worms, baby mice, vegetables and fruit.

Though Jacobs doesn’t say not to purchase an iguana, she does caution:

Iguanas and full-sized monitor lizards are intelligent and unusual pets, but they quickly grow very big. They can become aggressive as they get older, and their sharp claws, strong tail, and powerful bite can cause serious injuries.

The third chapter in each book in the “Pet Pals” series is probably the most important for those who are strongly considering acquiring a pet. “Find Your Perfect Pet” provides information that needs to be taken into account when selecting a specific pet type. In Lizard Pals, this chapter pulls no punches in describing the challenges posed by having a lizard as a pet, including the cost of the tank to hold it, its live food and its life span. Green anoles can live up to eight years while an African fat-tailed gecko’s life span can be 25 years. And, while that African fat-tailed gecko will top out sat 23 cm (9 in.) a Chinese water dragon can grow to be 90 cm (3 ft.) long.

Subsequent chapters provide practical advice on the housing, feeding, and daily care of the series’ animals as well as their safety and health issues. Tips on the typical behaviour of the animals in the series will assist their owners in better responding to the animals’ needs.

“Understanding Your Lizard” is another useful chapter wherein lizard owners are given guidance on how to “read” their pets’ body language or movements.

The series’ text is broken up into bite-sized boxes complemented by numerous full-colour, engaging photographs. Information-wise, overall, the books in the “Pet Pals” series are excellent. Filled with practical advice and providing important knowledge, one or more of the books should be required reading by any child (and her/his parents) who are considering adding a pet to their family.