The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail [Hardcover]

Lynn E. Hazen (Author), Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Seymour has always dreamed of being a great artist. But he’s shy about showing his artwork and, being a snail, he’s slow. Who will hire him?

When Seymour finds a job at the Speedy Arts Gallery, he is thrilled— until he finds himself sliming envelopes shut and delivering packages. Well, even great artists have to start somewhere. And who knows? Seymour’s big break might be just around the corner!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Seymour Snail hopes to be a great artist someday, but he feels shy about showing his work. He is thrilled to get a job in an art gallery, but he is bullied by his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug. At last, though, Seymour’s slimy glitter art is recognized by Mr. Stink Bug’s client, Lady CocoLaRoche, and the snail becomes a star. Some of the humor in this early chapter book, illustrated with lively cartoon drawings, may be more for adults who know the pretension of the “creative” world and the meaning of escargot. But young grade-schoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big––the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for small Seymour, who oozes along at a snail’s pace but triumphs in the end. Grades 1-3. --Hazel Rochman

Review

Praise for The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail:

“Young gradeschoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big––the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for the small creature, who oozes along at a snail’s pace but triumphs in the end.”--Booklist

"Engaging characters and winning art create a solid addition to the field of transitional literature."--Kirkus Reviews

“With only a few sentences and at least one illustration per page, this title is perfect for students transitioning to chapter books.”—School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805086986
• ISBN-13: 978-0805086980
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn E. Hazen, M.A., M.F.A., writes books for children and young adults filled with humor, heart and hope. Kirkus praised her young adult novel, SHIFTY, as "a realistic story that resonates." SHIFTY was chosen for VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction, as a CCBC Choice, and as a Smithsonian Notable. Lynn's books for younger readers include: CINDER RABBIT, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, BUZZ BUMBLE, and MERMAID MARY MARGARET.

Lynn earned an M.F.A. in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College where she won the Houghton Mifflin Scholarship. She also holds an M.A. in Education from San Francsico State University and a B.S. in Applied Behavioral Sciences from U.C. Davis.

Lynn lives in Northern California and enjoys giving presentations at schools, libraries, conferences, and literary events. She teaches classes in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. Check her website for a free downloadable teacher's guide, a cool SHIFTY Card activity (again with free pdfs & how to video) and more. www.ShiftyTheBook.com See also www.LynnHazen.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Snail of a Tale!, July 14, 2011

By 

Carol Peterson "Author/Educator" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail (Hardcover)

Just from the word play on the title, you can tell this book is going to be a fun read. And the book doesn't disappoint. Who'd think you could fall in love with a snail? Evidently Lynn Hazen did and so will you, when you travel through Seymour's world and see things from his very small point of view. Kids learning to read will love the heart warming story and adults reading to kids will find the word play just as much fun as the kids. Doug Cushman's artwork brings Seymour to life, blending perfectly with Hazen's snail trail tale. Fall in love with Seymour yourself.

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Artist in All of Us, March 11, 2010

By 

E. C. Porter (Port Jefferson, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail (Hardcover)

At the beginning of this charming book, Seymour the Snail timidly comes out as an artist to his friends. Encouraged by their positive reaction, Seymour searches for a job, finally landing at a local art gallery's mailroom. Seymour patiently plods through the less-than-creative job, always keeping his dream alive. Lynn Hazen had created a modern-day parable for creative types everywhere, and filled it with the best kind of humor - the kind enjoyed by adults and children alike. A heartfelt and hope-filled tale that kids will love.

5.0 out of 5 stars This story was loads of fun and every dilly-dallying youngster that reads this one is going to laugh like crazy!, October 19, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail (Hardcover)

Seymour the snail loved his artwork. He'd take a "puddle bath" in the morning, perform his daily exercise, have a little bite to eat and get right to work on his painting. He even sported a little beret so he'd look the part of an artist. He "felt shy about showing his work" so when his friends came he got everything out of sight so no one would notice. It sure wasn't easy hiding his big sculptures, that's for sure! When his friends Roly Poly, Lady Bug and Cricket were visiting the table cloth he used to cover his work up WHOOSH . . . flew right away and everyone could see his work. It was upsetting because he didn't know what they'd think.

It was a big surprise when they were thought it was awesome. Lady Bug said, "You could get a job as an artist." The others agreed and Seymour decided to look for a job as an artist. Le Grand Burp offered him a job cooking "ze escargot." Not very likely. The Gooey Garden Pest Control Company offered one where he could "draw dead bugs with their feet pointed to the sky." No thank you. Mr. Earwig finally gave him a lead and he was hired at the Speedy Arts Gallery. It was a job, but his boss, Mr. Stink Bug was really grumpy and only gave him work sealing envelopes. He wasn't satisfied with Seymour's "dilly-dallying, shilly-shallying, and lolly-gagging on the job." Was Seymour ever going to realize his dream of becoming an artist?

I really liked poor Seymour even though he was a tad slow. The story was loads of fun and every dilly-dallying youngster that reads this one is going to laugh like crazy. This is a beginning chapter book that has an interesting plot that will keep children moving right along and hoping for a sequel (I'm hoping for one too). There will be a lot of rootin' tooting for Seymour the underdog and a lot of hissing at that old stink bug. If you'd like an amusing easy reader, which you can read on the sly, this is one you might want to consider!