Review by Booklist Review
Marigold the snail is living a happy life that is, until her little sister Daisy is born. Not only are their parents thrilled with Daisy, but all the neighborhood creatures think she is adorable. Daisy's cuteness seems to mesmerize everyone. Marigold, however, is not impressed. Her dad encourages her to be patient and understanding. When Daisy breaks Marigold's favorite toy, her mother says Daisy doesn't mean any harm. Marigold decides the only explanation is that Daisy is an evil genius, dedicated to following Marigold everywhere and being annoying. Delicate watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations use simple backgrounds and plenty of white space to focus attention on the snail sisters. From Marigold's bulbous eyes rolling and Daisy's perky shell bow, their personalities humorously are showcased. When Daisy defends Marigold against an insulting bee, however, Marigold changes her mind about her sister. Just in time, since the book ends with the addition of twin brothers to the family. A classic story of sibling rivalry, made fresh by miniature mollusks.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Spring has sprung, and with it comes new beginnings and unexpected trials for two young snails.New siblings can be an unfortunate tribulation, even in the buggy world of this brightly colored picture book. Life unfolds nicely for Marigold, a big-eyed young snail, until the birth of her sister, Daisy. No longer the center of attention, Marigold resents this little intrusion, who doesn't seem nearly as cute as everyone thinks; instead, she ruins everything, even Marigold's favorite toy. Disgusted and resentful, Marigold sets out to be aloneuntil she finds herself in a pickle. When Daisy turns up to help out her big sis, Marigold realizes maybe siblings aren't so bad after all. Loose, watercolor-styled illustrations feature quirky yet lovable gastropods and insects, all endowed with big, expressive eyes, and a bug's-eye view into a spring garden, complete with leafy green endpapers, which amplify the floral theme. While Marigold's sophisticated vocabulary will prompt good discussions of words and their meanings, the lively speech balloons offer opportunities for humorous voice impressions for added read-aloud enjoyment. Good for new older siblings who will recognize Marigold's frustration but not be too old to appreciate Daisy's pluck.Not your garden-variety sibling story despite a familiar theme. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
