The Deadliest: Snake

by Eleanor Spicer Rice, Max Temescu (illustrator)

Six snakes face off against the Death-O-Meter to determine which will be crowned the deadliest of the species.


Meet the deadliest snakes on Earth.


Whose bite is the most lethal? Is it the dancing spectacled cobra? The fearsome black mamba? The chilling rattlesnake? Or someone else?


The host of this stiff competition, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, teaches the rules for poisonous snake interactions (Do not touch! Do not stomp!) and introduces the contestants.


This tale of fangs and venom invites readers into the world of where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever encounter one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing how they survive, why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them. With humor, accessible science, and a colorful graphic format by best-selling artist Max Temescu, The Snake shows that even the deadliest creatures may not be as scary as we think.

Genres: Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Eleanor Spicer Rice is an award-winning author with a Ph.D. in entomology. She studied ants and how they shape the natural world. After publishing six books on ants, she now writes books for children about the amazing life with which we spend our days.

​Eleanor is also the senior science editor at Verdant Word, a science communication company she co-founded with Robin Sutton Anders.

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from Eleanor Spicer Rice as she now rates the deadliest snakes in the world. As usual it is filled with wonderful illustrations, facts, and a really ingenious was of writing. I have raved about this series in the past, to the point that all I have left to say is 5*****

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DEADLIEST: SNAKE provides readers with an amusing and informative exploration of six of the most dangerous snakes in the world. After giving readers some general background information on snakes, including their anatomy, the reasons some are so dangerous, and an explanation of why we need snakes even if some are dangerous, the book jumps into an analysis of six different snakes. Each snake’s size, habitat, and special features are provided along with information about their hunting habits—which may bring them into contact with humans. Descriptions of how each snake’s venom impacts humans are provided before the final analysis is presented. Snakes are a high interest topic with many elementary readers, so with its great illustrations and the high stakes hook of the title, this book will find many eager readers.

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of interesting facts wrapped up in an engaging delivery. This book raises curiosity with it's clever who-is-the-deadliest hook—you keep reading, because you have to know the answer!

Fun and informative, but also terrifying. Great art and a very aesthetic layout. This is a fantastic book for raising awareness of and learning about snakes.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Co., and Netgalley for the digital arc.
Facts about six venomous snakes from around the world are entered into the Death-o-Meter, and bingo, the deadliest snake is identified. Habitat, physical description, diet, unique “fun facts”, and what happens after the particular snake bite you are given. Illustrations by Max Temescu bring out the personalities of the competitors, and the author, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, provides useful behaviors to use should you encounter a snake as well as the value of snakes in the environment.
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