Snail & Worm

February 15, 2016
Two new friends—neither, let’s say, in danger of winning a MacArthur Genius Grant anytime soon—star in three cheerfully screwy stories from Kügler (In Mary’s Garden). In the first, Worm meets Snail while the gastropod is playing tag with a rock. “I win! I am fast. You are slow,” Snail taunts the immobile rock, its eyestalks almost seeming to cheer in delight. Snail scales a tall flower in the equally funny second story, reveling in the amazing views while ignoring that its weight has caused the flower to bend down to the ground. “Wow! They look like ants down there!” Snail raves, staring at actual ants. “Wow! I can see my house!” Snail adds, looking at the shell affixed to its body. The friends show off their pets in the third story—a dog Snail thinks is a spider and a spider believed to be a dog. Snail and Worm’s direct, simplified dialogue is perfect for beginning readers, and their unabashed dopiness—equally evident in their conversations and in Kügler’s mixed-media cartoons—delivers a steady stream of laughs. Ages 6–9. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.

March 1, 2016
Three stories told in mostly one-syllable sight words for beginning readers introduce yet another odd-couple pair of animal friends. Each chapter uses just 40 to 50 words of conversation between two invertebrate friends who share the roles of dimwitted innocent and slightly bemused foil. First, Snail talks to a rock named Bob, prompting Worm to introduce a stick named Ann. In the second tale, Worm cheers Snail's triumphal conquest of a flower that bends almost to the ground under its weight. In the third story, Worm's attempts at description are tripped up by Snail's overactive imagination. Snail imagines a terrifying spider as Worm describes a lost dog without ever using the word "dog." Unfortunately the quirky, animation-inspired illustrations do not match either Worm's description or Snail's imaginings, leaving readers clueless and just as confused as Snail when Worm's pet appears. The final twist, that Snail's pet is a "dog" named Rex that is clearly a spider, will puzzle rather than amuse young readers. The underlying problem with all these tales is that the humor is exceedingly understated and dependent on a sophisticated sense of irony; children struggling to decode the text will get little help from the illustrations. Friendship and the difficulty of clear communication are the basis for the conflict between classic duos like Frog and Toad, George and Martha, and Elephant and Piggie. None of these need to fear being replaced by Snail and Worm. (Early reader. 6-9)

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June 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-A friend is good to have, but a best friend is even better. Snail and Worm are best buds in the tradition of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad or Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie. The pair have three silly adventures that are sure to please any young reader. Worm goes along with Snail's antics as they play tag with a rock named Bob and Ann the stick. When Snail is determined to climb a flower, Worm is there to cheer him on every step of the way. In the final story, Worm has lost his pet and describes what it looks like to his friend. Snail is positive that Worm's lost pet is a spider. The ending is humorous to all readers. This is a good choice for children not yet ready for early chapter books. The text is not too difficult, nor is it overwhelming. The speech for each character is written in different colors to make it easier to distinguish who is talking. Some of the humor may need to be explained to younger children, but it also makes this book enjoyable. The acrylic illustrations are simple, straightforward, and uncluttered. The characters have great expressions and are animated. VERDICT This appealing easy reader is a must-have for most collections.-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

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