Snail Has Lunch

by Mary Peterson

Overview

Chuckle your way through this easy-to-read illustrated chapter book about a snail who leaves his bucket for a bigger world.

Snail is a merry little mollusk in his rusty bucket. Day after day, rain or shine, Snail doesn’t move—and that suits him just fine. But when his bucket is turned over, his life takes a topsy-turvy turn. A journey through the vegetable garden with this adventurous friend Ladybug proves delicious—red, juicy strawberries…YUM!—and dangerous when he comes face to face with a gopher, then a rabbit, and an unfortunate nibble on a hot red pepper…

Can Snail find happiness in this big, new world—or will he wish he never left his bucket?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481453028
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Series:	PIX
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Mary Peterson was born and raised in Iowa on a small family farm surrounded by cornfields and lots of animals. Those early years in the company of critters large and small continue to provide inspiration for her art. She is the illustrator of many books for children and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2016
Gr 1–3—Snail loves his ordinary life. He eats the same meals every day, enjoys a cozy home—an old rusty bucket—and loves the monotony that comes along with both. When Snail's friend Ladybug tries to convince him to leave his bucket for the first time and join her for lunch in the garden, Snail declares that he has everything he needs and would rather not leave. But the very next day, a farmer comes to use Snail's bucket and unknowingly disrupts the creature's predictable lifestyle by accidentally dumping him out onto the ground. Ladybug reappears to find Snail scared and alone and takes him on a journey through the garden, exploring and sampling tasty vegetable and fruit delights. He makes friends with Gopher and Rabbit, tastes delicious strawberries for the first time, and unwittingly takes a bite of a hot pepper. This is a gentle tale about taking chances and trying new experiences, even if one does not feel ready to leave behind what's familiar to potentially try something different. There are a few unexpected twists, and Peterson's bright illustration style keeps the story light and entertaining, as do Snail's varied expressions of contentment, fear, excitement, disgust, and surprise. VERDICT This one is sure to be a bucket of fun for emergent readers with an interest in bugs and the natural world.—Amy M. Laughlin, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

School Library Journal

2016-06-01
Five busy chapters introduce a reticent snail to the glories of a garden. Peterson is no stranger to illustrating books about gardens and nature (Dig In!, 2016, etc.). Her first outing as both author and illustrator relies on cute critters rather than natural science. Snail, with bug eyes and an expressive, mostly smiling face, is encouraged to explore by his best friend, adventurous Ladybug. Gopher and Rabbit have speaking parts, while Squirrel and Bluebird play supporting roles. Although no specific reading level is identified, the new Aladdin PIX imprint targets reluctant readers ages 6 through 9 with sophisticated vocabulary. Snail is shown "ruminating" and "pondering." Short sentences, clear clues in the pictures, and varied typefaces keep the story accessible. The narrative is set in Archer, a friendly-looking serif type. Dialogue appears in squared-off speech bubbles. An all-uppercase blue display type is used for informational and descriptive words that are not part of the basic plotline. The center spread is a garden map. The story is slight; information embedded in the story is even slighter. The plot premise—that a snail would hesitate to venture out of a bucket—is just silly fun, but kids will relate to his hesitation to try new foods. Not as natural as Frog and Toad's clever repartee but a good purchase for children not quite ready for books without pictures but ready for chapters. (Early reader. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

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