Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) [Hardcover]

Judy Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Backyard Books

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

Review

'Direct, lively text packed with grisly facts the children will love to read.' Books Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 31 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (April 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753452421
• ISBN-13: 978-0753452424
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judy Allen is an award-winning author whose novel Awaiting Developments won 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Steps Into the World of Science, May 17, 2000

By 

Robbie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) (Hardcover)

A beautifully illustrated picture book with just enough text to intrigue the preschooler or introduce the grade schooler to the world of a snail. As an elementary school teacher I recommend this book for an introduction to scientific studies of animal families as well as a motivational tool for writing lessons. Great for pre-kindergarten thru 3rd grades.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, informative, fun to read, August 28, 2005

By 

H.M. Fonseca (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) (Paperback)

I love reading books to my children, but I find that really great books are not always that easy to come by. By a really great book I mean something beautifully illustrated, easy and enjoyable for me to read out loud, and an interesting, educational subject. Of course my children (They are 4 and 6 and a half years old now, but I've been reading these books to them for over a year.) must enjoy the book too, otherwise I'll be reading my beautiful book to myself! I think in this backyard book series I have found all the aspects of a great children's book. The story is cute. It takes about the right amount of time to read aloud. It's educational in a very real way. (There are snails all over my garden for my children to see, and touch.) Now they know all about how snails live and what they really are. I'm looking forward to buying, and reading, more books in the series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great find..., June 11, 2002

By 

faeriemoonmama "faeriemoonmama" (usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) (Hardcover)

My 2 year old was going through a fear of insects (and snails) phase and this book helped tremendously. Not only did it educate her on the life cycle of the snail, but it did so without talking down to her. I read it to her 7 times when we first got it and right away her attitude toward snails changed. Now, she is quite happy to go visit them as they munch away on our garden vegetables...