door, causing my mother
to shriek and jump on my
bed, the snake stuck out
his head, crawled slowly
across the floor..."
If you have an aversion to snakes, Blake is sure to change your mind. He is the perfect pet! From the moment he arrives, he does everything in his power to make life better for his 'boy'! When it looks like Mom is going to totally freak out, Blake calms her with a gracious greeting, letting her know that there is nothing to worry about with him in the picture:
"Sure enough,
to this day,
Blake has never bitten anyone.
Or gotten mad.
Or done anything bad.
He's been a perfectly polite, delightful snake,
as even my mom has discovered."
There is nothing he won't do to help...with homework, with being the resident dog walker, even with helping at batting practice. He answers the most difficult homework questions and helps solve every predicament as it presents itself. The boy is right: Blake might be the best snake in the whole wide world!
The boy is the perfect narrator for this joyful tale. He tells us about his snake with a clear, casual voice while also letting us in on the unusual eccentricities that make him such a welcome new member of the family. I love the dialogue, and the homework questions that seem decidedly suitable for a savvy snake who is doing his best to make himself invaluable.
As happens with picture books that really work, the illustrations are loose and relaxed, allaying any fear we might have about a snake as a pet. He and his boy seemed destined for each other...cute, friendly, and adaptable. The colors are red, black and green, letting the snake stand out in every spread. The design that presents the story on narrow, more width than depth, pages match Blake's persona, and make the presentation more dramatic. It's great fun, and worthy of your attention.
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