Book shelved for its too-familiar ring

A self-published book by children’s author Harriet Ziefert has been pulled after a reviewer noted close similarities between her work “A Snake Is Totally Tail” and a 1983 children’s release of the same name by Judi Barrett.

“Since I am both the author and the publisher of this book, I must, of course, take full responsibility for the text,” Ziefert said in a statement Tuesday.

Ziefert, whose works include “Sleepy Dog” and “A New Coat for Anna,” had released only review copies, planning a wider release this spring.

The similarities between her book and Barrett’s, including identical closing lines -- “A dinosaur is entirely extinct. This book is finally finished.” -- were discovered last week by Karen Breen, children’s books editor at Kirkus Reviews.

Ziefert said she had no recollection of seeing Barrett’s book but acknowledged she might have and that it could have been in her subconscious.