Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) - Hardcover

Allen, Judy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0753452421 ISBN 13: 9780753452424

Publisher: Kingfisher, 2000

Synopsis

Do not go where humans go. You could get squashed. You move too slowly to get out of the way. Watch out for that giant foot! Be careful of the poison in the garden! When you look at life from the perspective of a small mollusk, the backyard suddenly becomes a daunting place. A young snail faces many challenges as it tries to grow safely into an adult, while continuing on its daily quest for food. All the facts a young child needs to understand the life of this intriguing backyard creatures are packed into an engaging narrative.

About this title

About the Author:

Judy Allen is an award-winning author whose novel Awaiting Developments was short-listed for the Whitbread Children's Novel Award. Judy Allen and illustrator Tudor Humphries created Kingfisher's award-winning Backyard Books series and many other successful books, including the Reading Rainbow selections Tiger and Seal.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2-Short sentences in large print are juxtaposed against colorful, close-up, watercolor-and-pencil illustrations. Each accessible book begins with its title question and tells readers how they would experience life as that creature, keeping the familiar form of address throughout, e.g., "If you are [a ladybug], your parents look like this, and they eat-." The books briefly describe their subjects' birth, growth and development, a few outstanding physical and behavioral characteristics, diet, habitat, and natural enemies. The narratives then segue into a reality check, stating, "However, if your parents look a little like this-You are-a human child." Each title ends with a list of miscellaneous facts about the invertebrate discussed. While the texts are simply and clearly written, there are a couple of minor flaws. Ladybug fails to define the word aphid, although the soft-bodied insect is referred to several times, and Snail defines poison as "poisonous." Joanne Ryder's beautifully illustrated, lyrical The Snail's Spell (Puffin, 1988) serves as an excellent introduction for preschoolers, but Allen's titles will attract young nature lovers.
Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kingfisher
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0753452421
• ISBN 13: 9780753452424
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 31
• Illustrator: Humphries Tudor