A New York City boy's preconceived ideas of life in the West make him very apprehensive about the family's move there

"This is the first comprehensive treatment of the biology of the Monstersauria in nearly 50 years, during which time our knowledge has increased dramatically. It gives the reader an unprecedented opportunity to understand the evolution, ecology, and behavior of gila monsters and beaded lizards, as well as insights into folklore, venom, and threats to the existence of these fabled animals."--William Cooper, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne "Beck is the foremost authority on these animals and has published extensively on them. He provides a highly readable and fascinating summary of their biology."--Jonathan Campbell, author of Venomous Reptiles of Latin America

Meet the monstrous Gila Monster as it creeps across the desert! This book introduces the unique features of this wild animal including habitat, life cycle, physical characteristics, diet, threats, and defenses. Also included are a range map and a food chain diagram. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

A well-illustrated, very readable account of the largest and only poisonous lizard in the United States.

Introduces the physical characteristics and habits of the poisonous lizard native to the Southwest.

"Simple text and full-color photography introduce beginning readers to gila monsters. Developed by literacy experts for students in kindergarten through third grade"--