The snake scientist is a non-fiction book with many dimensions.  It not only tells about Bob Mason, known as the “Snake Scientist” but about one of his favorite snakes, the red-sided garter, about their world famous habitat in Canada, about the volunteers and how they help the scientists, about the characteristics of snakes in general, about the techniques and methods scientists use to find answers, and why everyone should care about snakes.  Booklist says, “Concern about the ecological health of the planet, shared by both the author and the scientist, comes clear in the interesting narrative, which introduces scientific terms without a hint of pedanticism and is peppered with quotes and fascinating descriptions of research in progress.”

Booklist says, “Montgomery, author of several animal studies for adults, tries her hand at one for children and accomplishes the task with great success”. The text enables the reader to be at the scene, understand the whys and hows of studying a species, and see that scientists are regular people.  Scientific American says, “Author Sy Montgomery, with the help of Nic Bishop's exceptional photos, enables the reader to join Mason and his team in the field and look over their shoulders as they work.”  School Library Journal says, “The excitement of science in action fills the pages  . . .  Montgomery focuses on one man and his research on the red-sided garter snake in Canada. The lively text communicates both the meticulous measurements required in this kind of work and the thrill of new discoveries.”  The text is divided into topical chapters, ends with a section of unsolved mysteries, contains directions and a map to the snake den, a bibliography for further reading, tips on respecting snakes, a list of acknowledgements, and an index. 

The exceptional narrative text is almost up-staged by the photos taken by Nic Bishop.  Even if the reader was never able to go to Canada and hold one of these garter snakes they would feel like they had handled one.  The photos are close-up and clear.  Booklist says, “Accompanying the text are numerous full-color photos, including some extraordinary close-ups, of the reptiles in their natural habitat and of the awe-struck, dedicated people observing them.”  School Library Journal says, “Large, full-color photos of the zoologist and young students at work, and lots of wriggly snakes, pull readers into the presentation.”

Booklist calls this book “a stellar example of how good such books can be.”

1999 Booklist Editor's Choice

Epstein, Joan Silberlicht. Review of The Snake Scientist in Scientific American. Available from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395871697//qid=1098235054/sr=12-1/103-2292350-4363846?v=glance&s=books&vi=reviews. Accessed 20 October 2004

Vose, Ruth S. Review of The Snake Scientist in School Library Journal. Available from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395871697//qid=1098235054/sr=12-1/103-2292350-4363846?v=glance&s=books&vi=reviews. Accessed 20 October 2004

Zvirin, Stephanie. Review of The Snake Scientist in Booklist. Available from  http://archive.ala.org/booklist/v95/youth/fe2/60montgo.html. Accessed 20 October 2004