This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake

Fifteen poems explore close encounters with animals and choosing to respond tenderly.

Whether it's helping a hummingbird escape, respecting a bear's habitat, admiring a heron's beauty, or giving way to ants at a picnic, the human response in these poems is to do no harm, and to help whenever possible. The poems follow a seasonal progression, ending with a final poem that imagines where each animal might be on a winter night.

Inspired by personal experiences, Nicholas Ruddock's poems are simply written, with a pleasing rhyme, and fun to read aloud. In the spirit of the text, Ashley Barron's cut-paper collage illustrations portray each creature with respectful realism, in environments ranging from rural and wild to urban and suburban.

A delightful dip into poetry for young animal lovers!

Key Text Features

• illustrations
• poems

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4: Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6: With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4: Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake by Nicholas Ruddock is a work that embraces the gentleness of nature, providing an insightful and enchanting experience for readers of all ages.