Free!

In their latest fiendish take on a maligned species, Snakes! by David T. Greenberg, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, slithery reptiles take center stage. An otherwise brave main character and his puppy find their home terrorized by “[a] hundred thousand salivating snakes!” The tone moves from ominous to playful: “Snakes as playground swings/ Snakes as teething rings.” But even after he has seemingly conquered his fear, one final twist (or constriction, more precisely) awaits the boy.