Seamos Valientes, Querida Serpiente!

K-Gr 3-A poor snake is trapped in a cage at the zoological garden, missing her island, and so cramped in her new home that she can hardly turn around. The only thing she looks forward to is her meals. Normally, she gulps down the mice that she is given without a thought, but one day, when she is not very hungry, a mouse makes a case for sparing his life in exchange for helping her escape. And escape they do. Siegenthaler's cartoon drawings are bright, brassy, and fun, with both animals sharing the same antic expressions. The snake resembles a small sea serpent, something that will not be lost on young readers when she and the mouse take to the ocean. The able translation flows well and maintains the rhythmic sound of the text. The attractive page layout, with half-pages of text matched with full- and half-page illustrations, is nonthreatening and works well for sharing. This charming literary snake is comparable to Tomi Ungerer's heroic protagonist in Crictor (HarperCollins, 1986) for child appeal and ingenuity. A sound purchase for most libraries and for bookstores serving Hispanic populations. Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA