An Instant Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians by Pamela Forey and Cecilia Fitzsimons
(NY: Gramercy Books, 1999) 124 pp.
"The most familiar species of North American reptiles and amphibians described and illustrated in full color," states the cover blurb.
I got this book for $2.99 at Border's in the cheap books section. I probably had a gift certificate, of which I was using up the last few dollars.
So essentially, it was free.
I paid too much.
The pictures are drawings, and sure, they look like the animals in question. Nevertheless, the mudpuppy is sneering, the three-toed amphiuma looks like an angry little shark, and the pictures of the small selection of plethodontids are teeny. The skin of the rough-skinned newt looks like my legs do, four days after they've been last shaved.
Oh, and did I say there were no scientific names appearing in the book?
I've stated elsewhere my opinion of drawings (as opposed to photos) (though in Peterson's case, I take it back) [if you're interested in my aside on Plato and cameras, see my review here: http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54611&highlight=plato ] .
The information accompanying the drawings is minimal and brief.
All I will say about the rest of the book is that even the spadefoot toads aren't cute. If you can't draw a cute spadefoot, get a new day job.
I won't say the book is useless, because I have a plan for mine. I will give it to my nephews to look at next time they visit, so they keep their sticky grubby little fingers off my real books. Then I'll send them out into the yard, and tell them that I'll give them a dollar for each animal pictured in the book that they can find back there, and five dollars if it's venemous. That'll keep them busy for a while.
Did I ever tell the story of that bratty kid I had to babysit occasionally during nursing school in trade for free cable? I made her eat cat food.
(NY: Gramercy Books, 1999) 124 pp.
"The most familiar species of North American reptiles and amphibians described and illustrated in full color," states the cover blurb.
I got this book for $2.99 at Border's in the cheap books section. I probably had a gift certificate, of which I was using up the last few dollars.
So essentially, it was free.
I paid too much.
The pictures are drawings, and sure, they look like the animals in question. Nevertheless, the mudpuppy is sneering, the three-toed amphiuma looks like an angry little shark, and the pictures of the small selection of plethodontids are teeny. The skin of the rough-skinned newt looks like my legs do, four days after they've been last shaved.
Oh, and did I say there were no scientific names appearing in the book?
I've stated elsewhere my opinion of drawings (as opposed to photos) (though in Peterson's case, I take it back) [if you're interested in my aside on Plato and cameras, see my review here: http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54611&highlight=plato ] .
The information accompanying the drawings is minimal and brief.
All I will say about the rest of the book is that even the spadefoot toads aren't cute. If you can't draw a cute spadefoot, get a new day job.
I won't say the book is useless, because I have a plan for mine. I will give it to my nephews to look at next time they visit, so they keep their sticky grubby little fingers off my real books. Then I'll send them out into the yard, and tell them that I'll give them a dollar for each animal pictured in the book that they can find back there, and five dollars if it's venemous. That'll keep them busy for a while.
Did I ever tell the story of that bratty kid I had to babysit occasionally during nursing school in trade for free cable? I made her eat cat food.
