A GATHERING OF GARTER SNAKES
by Bianca Lavies & photographed by Bianca Lavies
Imagine ten thousand garter snakes writhing and wriggling as they emerge from winter hibernation in the limestone caverns in Manitoba, Canada. The intrepid author photographer captures the unfolding drama, admitting, ``I used to be terrified of snakes.'' Obviously her terror has changed to admiration, as evidenced in many striking close-up photos: birthing snakes, balls of snakes clinging to trees, snakes crawling on a kitchen counter seeking warmth, and crawling over the photographer. She describes the yearly cycle of this common garter snake, and the mass hibernation that occurs nowhere else in the world. Lucid text and the compelling photos make this title a must for snake lovers. (Nonfiction 8-12)