Lizard Loopy (9 page)

“Sooo,” Josh said, rubbing Piddle's ears. “We keep the marble safe and talk to Petty tomorrow when she's calmed down a bit. Until then . . . let's just act normal. Or . . .” He got up and went down the garden, through the side passage and out to the front. Danny and Piddle arrived close behind him. Josh waved to the empty street and called out, “Hello, Mystery Marble Man!”

Nothing moved other than a few leaves blowing along the pavement.

“Or woman,” Danny said. “Anyway, they've probably gone home now. And speaking of . . . I can smell sponge cake. Mom's baking!”

The boys looked at each other, burst out laughing, and turned and ran indoors to beg some cake off Mom.

But Piddle paused. He stared across the road. His fur began to bristle, and he let out a little whine.

And the Mystery Marble Person smiled, chuckled silently—and went home.

BOOKS

Want to brush up on your reptile and amphibian knowledge? Here's a list of books dedicated to slithering and hopping creatures.

Johnson, Jinny.
Animal Planet™ Wild World: An Encyclopedia of Animals
. Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2013.

McCarthy, Colin.
Reptile
. DK Eyewitness Books. New York: DK Publishing, 2012.

Parker, Steve.
Pond & River
. DK Eyewitness Books. New York: DK Publishing, 2011.

WEBSITES

Find out more about nature and wildlife using the websites below.

San Diego Zoo Kids

http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals

Curious to learn more about some of the coolest-looking reptiles and amphibians? This website has lots of information and stunning pictures of some of Earth's most interesting creatures.

National Geographic Kids

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

Go to this website to watch videos and read facts about your favorite reptiles and amphibians.

US Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish.aspx

Want some tips to help you look for wildlife in your own neighborhood? Learn how to identify some slimy creatures and some scaly ones as well.

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE
TITLES!

Ali Sparkes grew up in the woods of Hampshire, England. Well—not in the sense that she was raised by foxes after being abandoned as a baby. She had parents, OK? Human parents. But they used to let her run wild in the woods. But not wild as in “grunting and covered in mud and eating raw hedgehog.” Anyway, during her fun days in the woods, she once took home a muddy frog in a bucket, planning to clean it up nicely and keep it as a pet. But her mom made her take it back. The frog agreed with her mom.

Ali now lives in Southampton with her husband and two teenage sons and a very small garden pond, which has never yet attracted any frogspawn or even half a newt. Ali is trying not to take this personally.

Ross Collins's more than eighty picture books and books for young readers have appeared in print around the world. He lives in Scotland and, in his spare time, enjoys leaning backward precariously in his chair.