Cover Image: The Reptile Club

The Reptile Club

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Member Reviews

Simply adorable. Rory wants to join a club. The thought the extra math homework club would be fun. Nope. So he started his own club: the Reptile Club. Each meeting they learned something new and interesting, and had great field trips. This book was not only fun but full of learning. There are lots of big words to start conversations like prejudice, as well as reptile facts like geckos have to lick their eyeballs. So grab your snake, grab your alligator, and grab this book and start your own reptile club.

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At Rory's school, there are lots of clubs to go to, none of which seemed like something he'd enjoy. Neither the Prancing Unicorn or Astronauts club appeal to him.

Rory's parents suggest that he make his own club. I like the idea of ingenuity of starting your own club and taking things into your own hands. It's so cute to see how Rory tries his best to attract people to the club. Rory has the determination to see it through and recruit fellow lizard lovers.

Things really get cool when real reptiles join Rory's club! The book also teaches reptile facts indirectly, and even Rory chips in on some facts about himself.

I love the humour in this book! The relationship between the reptiles and Rory is so sweet. Many others begin to join the club. They buy a cactus as a pet. Such a sweet little book! One day, the reptiles must leave. It's quite sad, and teaches kids that some friendships are fleeting but still powerful.

The illustrations are scratchy and child like but also homely and attractive. This is a craftily illustrated children's book with a lot of imagination and even more heart, but it could have included warnings against more dangerous reptiles like crocodiles or snakes.

Rory and friends decide that once the reptiles had left, it was time to start a new club...

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Rory is a boy who is excited that there are lots of clubs to join in his new school but none that he really wants to join. His parents suggest that he start his own club, something he really likes. He thinks and makes a list until he makes a decision. He will start a Reptile Club! He hands out flyers, brings his plastic reptiles to school and makes lizard-shaped lemon cookies the night before with his dad. When the lunch bells rings on Friday Rory is raring to go, but now kids show up. Just as he is ready to give up, three members show up at the door, but not what or who Rory was expecting.

Maureen Fergus does a great job with this book. My grandson loved the story, especially the characters and the illustrations. He kept asking what the various reptiles were called. Throughout the book there were various reptile facts integrated into the story. I think children will learn things about reptiles without even realizing it. The illustrations are detailed, colourful, kid-friendly and engaging. They add interest to the story and we had a lot of discussions about what we were looking at. This was a great book that will be enjoyed by children whether they love reptiles or not. A wonderful addition to home, classroom, school or public libraries.

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An amazing children's story and a very important lesson on kindness for the little one's to learn. Wonderful work

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Any kid that loves reptiles will definitely love this book. You get to learn a little about reptiles and also friendship. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Rory, like everyone at sometime or another, feels excluded from his fellow students. He can't find a club that appeals to him so decides to create one himself. He comes up with the Reptile Club but, surprisingly, his first members are reptiles themselves. Along with Rory is a crocodile, anaconda and gecko. Then, his fellow human students follow suit.
What's clever and sure to intrigue my young readers is the two-fold message of this book. The theme of inclusion and not quite knowing where you may fit in resonates and is resolved comically. At the same time, readers are learning so many interesting facts about reptiles intertwined with the story. It is a humorous and fact-finding read sure to appeal to my young students.

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Rory is an adorable little character who discovers there are lots of clubs to join in his brand new school but none lure him in. He talks about his problem to his parents and they suggest that perhaps he should start his own club. His dad advises him to make it about something he loves. Mmmmmm...

He is very passionate about reptiles so... a Reptile Club it is! He prints off flyers to get the word out and he and his dad bake lizard-shaped lemon cookies the night before to hand out to the club members. Oh boy, he'll get lots of kids now.

When the lunch bells rings on Friday Rory is raring to go.... but alas no fellow reptile enthusiasts arrive to join. Oh no! How can you have a club with no people? Then just as he was about to give up he hears whispering in the hall and with heart thumping he runs to the door to see what's happening on the other side. He gets the surprise of his life! He comes face-to-face with a crocodile, an anaconda, and a gecko. They are Rory's first new members! What a delightful surprise.

Maureen Fergus is an award-winning author who spins the magical tale. I love books that offer a clever twist and a play on words to catch the reader off guard. So fun. Throughout the book she weaves reptile facts such as: Raoul the crocodile sweats through his mouth, Miriam the anaconda weighs 514 pounds and can gulp a human down in one bite, and Pierre the gecko has no eyelids so he licks his eyeballs to keep them clean and moist. Who knew? Kids will love learning about these fascinating critters.

The illustrations are amazing. They are detailed, colourful, kid-friendly and engaging. They pull the reader right into the story and enrich the text perfectly. "The Reptile Club" is a delightful, inspiring book that encourages kids to confidently step out on their own and initiate the things that they are passionate about to others. I love the book and highly recommend it.

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This is a cute story about a boy who wants to join a school club, but doesn't like any of the ones offered. He decides to start his own and make it about reptiles, since that's what he loves. No one else wants to join, until a crew of reptiles come and join. Then everyone wants to be a part of the club. The illustrations are done very well with a lot of details. Children will enjoy this story very much!

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Rory has a difficult time finding a group at school that fits his interests, so he creates his own club.

This is a super cute book with a good message, and it also does a good job of slipping in informative facts about the reptiles.

Loved the illustrations as well!

Overall a good book for toddlers or older children.

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Rory starts up a Reptile Club one school lunchtime, and that's what he gets – three reptiles, each with their own unique quirks, coming through the door wanting to be members. No, this isn't a lesson in being careful what you wish for, but a nudge towards being open about your interests, and making friends with those who share them with you. And it's a very good nudge, well written and well illustrated (well, what would they all play but snakes and ladders?!).

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The cover was what drew me in! The artwork on every page is so wonderful and engaging! I loved this story! Have great facts throughout! Would recommend for the avid reptile lover! Thank your Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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As an avid reptile lover (I have 4 pet snakes), I loved this cute story! It encourages children to be intrigued by reptiles instead of afraid of them. And it ensures you know that spiders are not reptiles! Even though so many people think of them all as 'creepy animals'.

What's most adorable about this book is easily the ending. Who doesn't love dinosaurs?!

We always want to encourage children to not be afraid of reptiles but we should also teach them to be careful of any animal. I would have liked a page on the warning signs from the reptiles. The back-off 'hiss' from a snake, the defensive 'snap' of the crocodile and the scared 'squeal' of a gecko.

I think that in places where there are not a lot of venomous or dangerous reptiles (ie: NOT Australia and NOT Florida) this is harmless enough to not worry about. But I'd hate for a child to unknowningly try to hang out with a reptile in the wild that could hurt it.

I still easily give this a 4 star rating due to it's cuteness and clear intent to make children interested and love reptiles!

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