Snail and Worm All Day

August 1, 2019
All day, every day, is a good time for reading about Snail and Worm. Geisel honoree Kügler returns with her third hilarious early reader in this series about odd-couple pals Snail and Worm. Three stories, "Best Day Ever," "The Spooky Cave," and "A Bedtime Story," make up the book and deliver laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of affable, daffy Snail's antics. Worm is a loyal and supportive friend who never condescends to Snail despite misunderstandings and blunders, instead appreciating Snail's generous, guileless, big heart. And what's not to appreciate? When Snail declares it's the "best day ever," it's on a day of small personal disasters that are overshadowed by others' good fortune. When Snail mistakes a turtle in its shell for a spooky cave with a dragon inside, their first thought is to save the turtle Worm mentions. And when Worm offers to tell a bedtime story about Snail, Snail frets about being lonely without Worm in the story, too. Expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations make particularly great use of Snail's eyestalks and Worm's coiling body to ratchet up the humor and heart of every single scene. "I like everything you do," the friends affirm to each other at book's end, a sentiment readers will share about Kügler's work. Run (faster than Snail ever could) to get a copy of this winning early reader. (Early reader. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2019
The two inveterate invertebrate pals return in another set of adventures in three easy-reader-style chapters. In "Best Day Ever," cheery Snail focuses on it being �cf2]others'�cf1] best day; "The Spooky Cave" presents a silly case of mistaken identity; "A Bedtime Story" highlights Worm's nurturing side and the friends' narrative compatibility. With varied mixed-media illustrations and dialogue-only, color-coded text, new readers should feel supported in their efforts while being continually entertained.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2019
The two inveterate invertebrate pals (Snail & Worm, rev. 5/16; Snail & Worm Again, rev. 5/17) return in another set of adventures in three easy-reader-style chapters. Best Day Ever, as described by cheery Snail, focuses on it being others' best day: even though I broke my toy?bumped my shell?can't find my shoes, Snail sees that it's Frog's best day because she learned to blow bubbles and it's Bird's best day because her eggs hatched. The story ends with Snail's well-timed, punch-line realization: My day is not so bad. I just remembered that I don't wear shoes. The Spooky Cave presents a silly case of mistaken identity (a turtle in its shell is not a cave-dwelling dragon). A Bedtime Story highlights Worm's nurturing side and the friends' narrative compatibility. That was a great story about me and you. Good night. With varied mixed-media illustrations (full pages, spot art, occasional spreads and panels) and dialogue-only text that's color-coded to each speaker, new readers should feel supported in their efforts while being continually entertained. elissa gershowitz

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2019
All day, every day, is a good time for reading about Snail and Worm. Geisel honoree K�gler returns with her third hilarious early reader in this series about odd-couple pals Snail and Worm. Three stories, "Best Day Ever," "The Spooky Cave," and "A Bedtime Story," make up the book and deliver laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of affable, daffy Snail's antics. Worm is a loyal and supportive friend who never condescends to Snail despite misunderstandings and blunders, instead appreciating Snail's generous, guileless, big heart. And what's not to appreciate? When Snail declares it's the "best day ever," it's on a day of small personal disasters that are overshadowed by others' good fortune. When Snail mistakes a turtle in its shell for a spooky cave with a dragon inside, their first thought is to save the turtle Worm mentions. And when Worm offers to tell a bedtime story about Snail, Snail frets about being lonely without Worm in the story, too. Expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations make particularly great use of Snail's eyestalks and Worm's coiling body to ratchet up the humor and heart of every single scene. "I like everything you do," the friends affirm to each other at book's end, a sentiment readers will share about K�gler's work. Run (faster than Snail ever could) to get a copy of this winning early reader. (Early reader. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.