Grade 3-5 These brief, randomly arranged introductions present intriguing facts about dozens of cold-blooded creatures. Each page addresses one topic in a question-and-answer format. The question is followed by a short column, or block, of text describing major characteristics shared by all of the featured animals or distinctive physical and/or behavioral characteristics of particular species. Amphibians, Lizards, and Snakes focus primarily on about two dozen species with unusual characteristics, including, respectively, a frog that becomes smaller as it matures a skink that swims in loose sand to escape enemies and snakes that reproduce asexually. Most of the entries in Crocodiles offer general information, asking such questions as, What's the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? and How do crocodiles kill their prey? Other topics include locomotion, senses, feeding habits, egg-laying, and natural enemies.
