Why the Snake Crawls on Its Belly

by Eric A. Kimmel, Allen Davis (Illustrator)

A ladder stands in the Garden of Eden, reaching all the way to Heaven. Adam and Eve go up and down the ladder as they please, singing with the angels and talking to God. When the snake convinces them to sin, the ladder is broken. God and the angels decide the snakeÂ’s punishment, but so the snake does not give up hope, he is given the opportunity to periodically shed his skin and start over again. Eventually, the snake may understand his mistake and in the future will take his place next to man on the ladder to Heaven.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Mari McR]

Not especially creative.