Snake and Lizard are great friends and live together in a burrow under a rock. One day, Lizard has an idea.

“Why don’t we have our names in large letters over our entrance?” 

Snake can’t understand how this could be done, but Lizard is excited about the idea, and races off to begin.

Lizard works hard on the idea, gathering sticks and mud. it is much trickier than first thought, but Lizard perseveres. Snake is still not convinced.

Finally, when Lizard is finished, Snake is impressed. But when something happens to the sign, Snake tries to fix it, with unexpected results.

The sign, meant to bring the closer together, has done the opposite.

From the multi-award winning team of NZ literary legends, Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop, this new episode of friends Snake and Lizard is a simple but clever picture book and a play with words.

Lizard has an idea to display their friendship for all to see, but the result tests the very friendship they want to celebrate.

Gavin Bishop’s illustrations of the friend’s emotions during this test, are clear on the page. From early excitement at the idea, confusion from Snake then joy at the result from them both, Bishop’s distinctive style shows the reader the ups and downs of Snake and Lizard’s friendship.

This full colour hard back will be a great read aloud with children on a knee or at bedtime, talking about what the characters are feeling and why, but just as entertaining for children aged 5-8 with the clever word play.

Another treasure for kiwi kids!

Author – Joy Cowley

Illustrator – Gavin Bishop

Picture Book – Age 5+

(2025, Gecko Press, Snake & Lizard, Series, Animals, Friendship, Sign, Humour, Hurt, Names, Nicknames)