Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers

by M.E. Kerr

Book Overview

Christmas is coming, and Marshall, a black and yellow king snake who likes big words and live rats, and Irving, a 12-year-old part German shorthaired pointer, are still accidental residents at... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060526246
• ISBN13: 9780060526245
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 195 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A Heartwarming Tail, er, Tale

Shelters are the melting pots of the animal world. With a one-eyed Siamese cat, a gambling greyhound, a king snake, and many others, Critters is a prime example. The story encompasses many animals, but each one ties into a central tale. Goldie, a yellow lab whose real name is Rex, is determined to escape. He is loyal to his boy and can't stand the idea of going home with anyone else. His adventure touches many lives, including Placido, the cranky Siamese, Catherine the greyhound, and even Marshall the king snake. Will Goldie, AKA Rex, find his way home, or into the dogcatcher's evil hands? Will Placido offend yet another family and be returned to Critters--again? Will Marshall always be disregarded for being legless and scaly? M.E. Kerr bring a wonderful story to children that covers so many life issues that listing them all would take more space than this review. Suffice to say, this book is will touch readers with its frankness and charm. Sometimes anthropomorphizing characters can be ridiculous, but not so in this case. Here, it serves to show readers what animals can go through, all the histories that humans will never be able to hear them tell. Kerr also gives the animals personalities that readers can relate to. What a great tail... I mean, tale. This would also be a GREAT gift to have a kid read before you take them to choose a rescue animal--they'll appreciate their new friend even more. Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer 02/09/2007 Personal Note: I adopted a rescue dog two years ago next month. Alice has been a WONDERFUL friend, and she is excellent around my daughter. I couldn't have asked for a better dog--well, except for the shedding thing... I emphatically encourage you to look at rescue animals before choosing a new pet. If you're looking for a purebred, you can still find them through rescue groups by breed specialty. Do it. It will make you happy. It will make you a better human. ~C.Fix

Animal lovers come forth...!

Christmas is only a few days away, and at this time of year, the animals residing within the cages at Critters Animal Shelter begin feeling sorry for themselves. After all, while other animals are cozying up near warm fireplaces with their beloved owners, and batting the ornaments on the Christmas tree, the Critters residents are left to their own devices, sleeping in cold, metal cages, and wondering if they'll ever be given the chance to be called someone's pet. Don't get me wrong, the animals at Critters are well-taken care of. They receive daily walks, and people play with them, and on Christmas Eve they even receive edible treats that are lip-smacking good. But it's still not the same. But this year, things are different. For one thing, Placido, a bossy, one-eyed Siamese has been adopted (again!), and while the rest of the animals are holding bets regarding how long until Placido returns to Critters, the mischievous fellow is snacking on mackerel, and sharing a pillow with an eleven-year-old entertainer named Jimmie - looking to make a star of herself. Then there's Catherine. The ex-racing greyhound has a penchant for betting, but this year she's making a new life for herself with a young girl named Sun Lily, who happens to have not one but four mothers. Which brings us to Marshall, a gentle king snake with a huge vocabulary who wants nothing more than to go home with his favorite boy - Walter. But Walter's famous news-correspondent father isn't having it, and insists that Walter pick a more suitable pet for a New York City apartment. And, of course, we can't forget Goldie, aka Rex, who has lost his beloved boy, Bob, and wants nothing more than to be reunited with his one and only in time for the holidays. And, while that may seem like enough animals to keep anyone's hands full, it doesn't include the arthritis-stricken, soap opera loving Irving; Posh, an animal resembling a pit bull and a pig; Dewey, an Irish setter looking for someone to take a chance on him; and the newest addition to the crazy bunch, Noel, an iguana with a chip on her shoulder. Together, these animals will drive one another, as well as the shelter volunteers up the wall! I have volunteered at various animal shelters over the years, and have seen the tales and stigmas that accompany each fuzzy friend - from cats to dogs, and rabbits to guinea pigs. However, as animals can't talk, it's hard to get a full understanding of the various stories they have to tell. Perhaps that's why M.E. Kerr's SNAKES DON'T MISS THEIR MOTHERS appealed to me so greatly. Kerr has touched upon a subject that many authors steer clear of. She has introduced us to a gang of shelter animals, all with their own heartbreaking, yet touching tales of survival, and the harshness they have had to suffer through over the years. Together, these animals, amidst bickering and sarcasm, seek solace in one another to help them through their stay at Critters, while at the same time comparing notes on the cruelty th

Kerr does it again!

What a great novel about the lives of shelter animals! Kerr writes vivid characters that evoke sympathy for the plight of all the unwanted animals out there. They each have a story to tell--just like Placido the one-eyed Siamese, Marshall the king snake, and Irving the older pointer. A quick read!