Review by Booklist Review
As slugs with shells, snails perhaps lack charm. One look at McCloskey's affectionate portrayal quickly changes minds. Friendly and slimy, invitingly animated and yet realistic, the snails in these images trek across long, horizontally oriented, panel-less pages with beige backgrounds that give the natural colors a chance to pop. Following the snail, we gather information well-pitched for little readers, like how fast a snail moves compared to a turtle or a fly and what their natural predators are. And, of course, the good stuff: mucous. Ample page count is given to fascinating bits, like how they follow each other by their mucous trails, how their mucus can function as glue for their damaged shells, and how it enables them to travel safely on nearly any surface (including the blade of a knife!). This will be a particular joy for the science-minded, but between spotting the snails hidden among rocks and taking a cue from the drawing lesson in back, there's plenty of fun here for casual readers, too.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The fourth title in McCloskey's Giggle and Learn series of leveled reader comics celebrates the notoriously poky mollusk. In distinctively quirky graphics, McCloskey shows snails ambling along on mucus trails and handily communicating via dialogue balloons. Three children learn about snails with readers, expressing enthusiasm and occasional revulsion in response. "Snails make a lot of mucus. With mucus, they can travel on any surface," McCloskey writes. A chestnut-colored snail flagrantly demonstrates this point: "I can climb over a knife and not get hurt!" Readers will also learn that "every snail is both male and female" and "a snail's eyes are weak, but it uses its lower tentacles to feel and smell." McCloskey's series continues to deliver an offbeat blend of science, humor, and a dynamic interplay between words and pictures. Ages 4-8. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 1-With hip and fun graphics, just enough "ick" factor, and plenty of facts, this title offers beginning readers a great deal of information about snails and slugs. McCloskey opens with a familiar idea-snails are slow-but springboards from that to unexpected tidbits such as how fast or slow snails move compared to other animals, why a lack of speed can be an advantage, and lots and lots about mucus. The author/illustrator quickly touches upon reproduction ("Snails shoot arrows at each other before they make babies") and even finds space to look at the creatures as favorites in the drawing habits of monks of old-a segue into a spread devoted to how to draw a snail. VERDICT What a delight! Kindergartners will need some help with this one but will enjoy it, while first graders will savor the grossness on their own.-Henrietta Verma, Credo Reference, Jackson Heights, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
McCloskey tackles the subject of snails (including plenty of talk about mucus--YUCK!) in his newest addition to the Giggle and Learn early reader comics series (We Dig Worms! and others). Fascinating (if occasionally vague) facts are shared about how snails move (slowly); the variety of snail species, sizes, and habitats; and even snail courtship rituals. The illustrations--sometimes realistic, sometimes humorous--are rendered with acrylics on parchment-style paper. The omniscient, informational text is presented in all-caps while a racially diverse cast of human characters and a group of animals react to the details through lighthearted, speech-bubbled side conversations (while hiding from a predator, two snails comment: Our shells make us look like rocks! Sh-h-h-h-h!). One piece of trivia McCloskey includes is that monks often drew images of snails: No one knows why monks drew so many snailsmaybe its becausesnails are fun to draw! Fittingly, the book ends with step-by-step instructions for readers to create their own doodles of the gastropods: Dont forget the mucus! elisa gall (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Young naturalists will love McCloskey's look at snails.In a manner most unsnaillike, McClokey zooms from fact to fact as he informs and entertains readers with information about these surprisingly interesting gastropods. The pacing never feels rushed, however, as the facts transition as smoothly as if on a "road of slimy mucus." Readers will learn how slowly snails move as compared to other creatures, the advantages of moving slowly, and how they influence the journeys of other snails (spoiler alert: Mucus just may be involved). Fans of The Real Poop on Pigeons (2016) and We Dig Worms (2015) will get a kick out of this latest installment in the fact-based early graphic novel series. The information is paired with colorful cartoon illustrations that toe the line between caricature and surrealism. While the snails are the book's stars, they are observed by a group of racially diverse children. Savvy educators will appreciate the book's versatility: It would be the star of an intimate gross-book-themed storytime (due to its relatively small size) or may be used as the inspiration for a pre-K lesson plan on anything from wildlife and nature to gardening to body fluids.Overall, a fun read and a smart selection for any elementary nature shelf. (Graphic informational early reader. 6-8)
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