* There are no currently available California snake guides (there are Western reptile and snake guides more generally).
* Combines professional and academic authority with accessible information.
* A general audience field guide to the 40 species of snakes of California, both native and most commonly found introduced species, with beautiful identifying photographs, engaging and fun description of behavior and traits from a herpetologist and teacher, and helpful notes on how to live thoughtfully with snakes.
* Author Emily Taylor is the director of the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab at California Polytechnic State University, and she is the owner of Central Coast Snake Services.
* There's a deep niche fascination with snakes both as pets and as wild creatures.
* Fits nicely with Heyday's other books about engaging with wildlife such as Stranded, our "Birds of" series, Nocturnalia, and the forthcoming Unnatural Habitat.
* It's generally good to demystify snakes and reptiles and highlight safety and observation when seeing them on hikes or other outdoor adventures. The numerous parks and other gift shops around California will want this book.