Go, Green Gecko!

PreS-Gr 1—Life for a gecko means constantly being on alert. Whether on a branch or in the grass, a gecko needs to be aware of its surroundings. This is emphasized in the text with the repeated phrase, "Watching out for danger." The end of the phrase, though, changes throughout the title. For example, "looking all around," "looking here and there," "looking far and wide." This title does a good job in introducing preschoolers to life sciences, and the simple text makes this a good selection for a storytime. The story is easy to follow and includes one foldout page where a gecko apparently scares off a bird with its bark. Large illustrations are another reason this would work well in a group setting. The artwork, which is mostly in greens and browns, depicts geckos, which will probably appeal to many children. The end includes interesting facts about geckos. For example, the title says, "Instead of eyelids that shut, the gecko has clear skin over its eyes. It licks its eyes with its special tongue to keep them clean and moist."