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"Barry pokes fun at the underside of childhood like a fisherman dresging up beasties. He brings things out in the open and it is as healthy for kids as it is for adults to see fustrations in the bathing light of humor."

Laughmakers Magazine

"An entertaining account with a humorous ending and great drawings."

The Houston Post
Houston, Texas


"Barry Louis Polisar hasn't forgotten what its like to be a kid. He deals with real kids."

The Washingtonian Magazine
Washington, DC


"It's an honest view of a kid's world that kids and a lot of adults find refreshing."

The Winchester Star
Winchester, Virginia


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Snakes! And the Boy Who Was Afraid of Them

by Barry Louis Polisar

illustrated by David Clark

$14.95, 32 p. color illustrated.

ISBN# 0-938663-15-1


Booklist Magazine called Barry Louis Polisar "an irreverent wit" and this new edition of an old favorite--now with full color illustrations--lives up to The American Library Association's description.

In a delightfully subtle way, Polisar promotes self esteem through a character who thinks for himself in this companion book to The Snake Who Was Afraid of People. Afraid of snakes, Lenny has to endure a field trip to the zoo's snake house. He encounters taunts from his bullying classmates and little sympathy from his teacher and guidance counselor, who are pictured increasingly snake-like and menacing until the wickedly funny surprise ending. It's a book about fears that says there's nothing wrong with having them. In fact, there are some things you should be afraid of. Polisar's protagonist is a child who not only thinks for himself against a popular belief--but proves himself right. A delighfully subversive serpent metaphor.




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