One morning in 2009, Maen, a guide at Komodo National Park in Indonesia, sat at his office desk. Suddenly, he saw something move. When he looked down, he couldn’t believe his eyes. “I saw the Komodo dragon under this table,” Maen said. He slowly drew back his legs from the venomous creature. In an instant, the animal lunged. Would Maen escape with his life? Learn all about venomous lizards in this engrossing new narrative nonfiction book for young readers. It’s packed with exciting wildlife encounters, cutting-edge science, and loads of info about venom and its deadly effects.

These creatures might not be the first image that comes to mind when one hears the word "monster," but a Gila monster's bite can be deadly to its prey. While this reptile moves slowly, it is able to protect itself from predators in a fascinating way. Accessible text conveys important aspects of elementary science curricula while eye-catching photographs keep readers of many ages and levels engaged. Curious and developing readers will be thrilled to recite the many fun facts they learn from this volume.

Introduces the physical characteristics and habits of the poisonous lizard native to the Southwest.

"This is the first comprehensive treatment of the biology of the Monstersauria in nearly 50 years, during which time our knowledge has increased dramatically. It gives the reader an unprecedented opportunity to understand the evolution, ecology, and behavior of gila monsters and beaded lizards, as well as insights into folklore, venom, and threats to the existence of these fabled animals."--William Cooper, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne "Beck is the foremost authority on these animals and has published extensively on them. He provides a highly readable and fascinating summary of their biology."--Jonathan Campbell, author of Venomous Reptiles of Latin America

A tongue that can smell prey and sharp fangs that deliver deadly venom--some snakes are built to survive! Young readers will be fascinated to read about these deadly predators. Close-up photos and simple text make this book a great high-interest read and a useful resource for report writing.

Everything You Need to Know About Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures is a fascinating read - not only do you discover the basics of reptile and amphibian anatomy, you also learn about the lives and times of a great number of creatures: see how they survive in lakes and rivers, forests and deserts, and how they have adapted to the most inhospitable habitats. Everything You Need to Know About Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures provides ideas for things to make, games to play, quizzes, and shocking facts to share with your friends. It's everything you need to know, and everything you WANT to find out.