Jake the Snake By Tori Velle

When introducing young children to reptiles, fiction can be just as powerful as fact. Jake the Snake by Tori Velle is a sweet, simple story that uses a misunderstood reptile to teach incredibly important lessons about empathy and friendship.

The story follows Jake, a snake who just wants to join in and play with three children on a rainy afternoon. Initially, the children are afraid of him simply because of how he looks. However, when they find themselves in a sticky situation, Jake steps up to help them without asking for anything in return. It is a wonderful narrative that helps bridge the gap between kids and the sometimes-frightening natural world.

Why We Love It:

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Delivers a powerful, easily digestible message about not judging others based on their appearance.
• Positive Reptile Representation: Positions the snake as a helpful, friendly protagonist rather than a scary monster, helping to dismantle common childhood fears.
• Relatable Themes: Uses everyday situations—like wanting to join a game and making apologies—to teach kids about friendship, feelings, and inclusion.
• Gentle Introduction: A perfect read-aloud book for young children who might still be nervous around reptiles, showing that differences can be a great thing.

Perfect For: Preschool and early elementary children (ages 3–5), parents looking for books with strong SEL themes, and any library wanting to highlight positive stories about reptiles.

Specifications:

• Publication Date: November 30, 2009
• Format: Paperback
• Number of Pages: 40
• Dimensions: 0.1 x 8.5 x 8.5 IN