Snakes in My Garden By Joy Austin, Tara Raymo & Luana K. Mitten

Discovering wildlife right in your own backyard is an exciting milestone for young children, but learning to distinguish friend from foe can be tricky. Part of the Aha! Readers series, Snakes in My Garden by Joy Austin offers a delightful, engaging introduction to the beneficial, non-venomous snakes that often share our outdoor spaces.

Blending playful rhyme with educational rhythm, this book teaches young readers that snakes can be helpful rather than harmful. Featuring friendly profiles on common garden residents—including the black racer, corn snake, ribbon snake, indigo snake, gopher snake, and hog-nosed snake—each entry breaks down key details like size, diet, special features, and fun facts. 

Why We Love It:

• Rhyme and Rhythm: Uses catchy, poetic language that makes it a wonderful read-aloud book and keeps early readers hooked.
• Encourages Conservation & Appreciation: Helps dismantle common fears by teaching children how helpful these non-venomous reptiles are to backyard ecosystems.
• Structured Learning: Each featured snake includes dedicated sections for size, diet, and fun facts, making it easy for kids to absorb bite-sized science.
• Visually Engaging: Beautifully designed layouts by Tara Raymo bring each garden snake to life in a friendly, non-intimidating way.

Perfect For: Early readers (ages 5–8), young nature enthusiasts, parents teaching backyard ecology, and elementary school libraries.