What the Lizard Said is the first in a series of illustrated poetry books that chronicle the adventures of Wise Dog and his younger friend, Jimmi, two dogs on a quest to learn important lessons about the world we live in. Every poem presents a different animal with different wisdom to impart to Wise Dog and Jimmi on their journey toward a greater understanding of life's challenges and opportunities. The Wise Dog and Jimmi books are designed for children and adults to read together, to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings about the poems' central message: the variety, unity, and sanctity of all life, and our responsibility to care for the Earth's creatures. The author began writing What the Lizard Said as a reading tutor at a learning clinic, to help children increase their reading and comprehension skills and to expand their vocabularies, all through the rhythms of poetry.