Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of SQL in a Nutshell is a chameleon.There are approximately 85 species of chameleons existing in the world today. They are mostly indigenous to Africa, although there are a few species found in Asia and in Europe.Most are tree dwellers. The chameleon is relatively small; the average adult size is between 6 and 12 inches. It lives mostly on insects and uses its long tongue to capture its prey. Indeed, the tongue is a critical tool. It can stretch up to 1.5 times the lizard's body length, and there is an adhesive pad on the end on which the insects are trapped. There are several other characteristics common to all species of chameleons. For example, its eyes are large and protruding, and the lizard can see 360 degrees without moving its head or body. Its toes are on either side of its feet, usually three on one side and two on the other. This is ideal for moving quickly and efficiently through tree branches.

Chameleons are best known for their ability to change their appearance to adapt to their physical environment. Actually, several types of reptiles can change their skin color, but the chameleon is far and away the most accomplished. This skill, which is moderated by the nervous system, obviously is invaluable for hunting prey and avoiding predators, and also helps to stablize body temperature.The extent of this camouflage capability is related to the gender, age, and species of the lizard. Mary Brady was the production editor for SQL in a Nutshell, and Jane Ellin was the copyeditor.Ann Schirmer was the proofreader. Sarah Sherman and Colleen Gorman provided quality control. Julie Hawks wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman.The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive.Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. This book was converted by Julie Hawks to FrameMaker 5.5.6 with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Mary Brady.