The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

There a nature book in the teenage reader's section at Paulina Springs Books that will knock your socks off. When I saw it, I could not believe it: a three-dimension book on the anatomy, biology and natural history of the hooded cobra, so realistic it is unbelievable.

From the front cover with its plastic case encasing a three-dimension miniature of the snake's skull and anatomy to a back cover that shows the animal's skin, it is a marvel of information. In between you can view pages that contain the skeleton, internal organs and obtain additional information on venom and natural history of the species.

Take it down from the shelf and take a good look at the detailed miniature plastic mold of the snake's skull encased in the plastic container on the cover. Turn the page, and you will see the internal organs with a view of the rear part of the skull on the back part of the cover.

Back when I took biology in high school, dissecting frogs was vogue as a means to learn about nervous and circulatory systems. How I hated that stinky, messy work. On top of that, the idea of killing millions of frogs for students to cut up - many of whom could not care less what they were doing - was also a great bother to me.

Silver Dolphin's "Uncover" series has taken all the messiness and sacrificing of frogs out of studying beginning biology. In addition, not only can you see the inner workings of the cobra and frog, but also there are revealing books on the crocodile, tarantula, shark and even T-Rex.

Non-scientists - who could not care less about the inner workings of animals - can find interest in the inner workings of a race car as published in the "Uncover" series.

Take a gander at these remarkable works. They are really something! If you can resist buying at least one, you are a better man than I, Gunga Din.