Nancy Hicks Marshall grew up near the tidal marshes of southern Long Island, New York. She attended summer camp on a lake in western Maine for several years. When living in New York City, she hiked in New York and New England. She moved to Arizona in 1975 and has frequently visited the National Forests in Yavapai and Coconino Counties. She and her husband and children often visited their cabin in the Prescott National Forest, a location where these stories are based. Ms. Marshall's professional career includes time as a public school teacher (K-12), Project Coordinator of affordable housing, Executive Director of the Arizona Civil Liberties Union, and work as an attorney in the Juvenile Court. She has authored several books including fiction, non-fiction, and embellished fact. She lives in Arizona with her husband and their dog, Chelly
"""This delightful book turns tail on the human-centric view of the universe most of us unwittingly subscribe to. Narrated by a black rattlesnake and captivatingly illustrated by a fisheries biologist, A RATTLER'S TALE logs a year's worth of interactions between a human family and the Arizona wildlife that inhabit the environs of their mountain cabin. By good (and occasionally bad) example, the book teaches respect for all life and that all creatures have a place in the colorful tapestry of creation."" Cindy Yurth, President of the Black Hat Humane Society A Rattler's Tale is a wonderful set of short animal/human encounters that bring awareness of how we are so connected to our habitat and the animals that live in it, just out of sight (for the most part). A great read for adults and children alike and a stepping off point to start important conversations about how we treat the world around us. The rattler's narrative is informative, yet personal, and brings the reader into the viewpoint of an often-feared species."" Kay Bordwell, Grand Canyon Sierra Club Group Executive Committee for wildlife ""This is a wonderful book about humans' relationship with nature, enhanced by delightful illustrations. As the coordinator for 20 years of the read aloud literacy programs, BookPALS and Sunshine Readers, I would endorse this book as a great read aloud for 3rd through 6th graders or even older. Each chapter can stand alone, but the quirky animal characters and especially the snake narrator who ties the whole thing together, will have the kids begging for ""just one more chapter."" There are excellent follow-up questions and projects at the end of the book so students can continue their investigation into the wonders of the natural world and their relation to it. It is time we ALL learned to appreciate and respect each other. A RATTLER'S TALE emphatically sends that message. Ellen Dean, Literacy Advocate http: //www.storylineonline.net"