Brazaitis, Peter. You belong in a zoo! Tales from a lifetime spent with cobras, crocs, and other extraordinary creatures.

BRAZAITIS, Peter. You belong in a zoo! Tales from a lifetime spent with cobras, crocs, and other extraordinary creatures. Random House, Villard. 345p. illus. bibliog. index. c2003. 0-8129-6790-9. $14.95. SA

Some people create their own luck, and pursue their passions without regard to other people's ideas of what is possible. Brazaitis is such a person. With a fascination for the wild world, particularly animals, he went from assistant to a taxidermist to superintendent of the Bronx Zoo without a college degree. (In mid-life he did get degrees.) Brazaitis' adventures along the way with a variety of animals make for entertaining reading. There is also insight into the care and treatment of animals in zoos and how much that treatment has changed. He possesses a nice combination of scientific detachment and fond interest in reptiles. Brazaitis also has a practical word about people who keep venomous reptiles (especially snakes) as pets and suffer the consequences. "To my eternal amazement amateur herpetologists still feel they have to prove their masculinity by keeping such dangerous animals in their private home collections. As for me, call me chicken where venomous snakes are concerned." (p.51)

From a near death experience from snakebite to dealing with an amorous turkey, Brazaitis' tale is alternately surprising and funny--light, but with some words of wisdom thrown in. A nice addition to most public and academic libraries. Katherine Gillen, Libn., Luke AFB Lib., AZ

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code help librarian and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.