The Snail and the Whale [Hardcover]

Julia Donaldson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale, the two travel together to far-off lands. It’s a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend?

From the creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo comes this touching tale of adventure and friendship. With vibrant illustrations and rhymes that are both playful and lyrical, here is a story that shows us that even the smallest creatures can help others in a big way.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3--A tiny mollusk that longs to see the world hitches a ride aboard a humpback whale in this charming picture book. After seeing far-off islands, underwater caves, and storm-filled skies, the snail feels impossibly small--until the whale is beached in a harbor, and she saves the day by writing a note on the blackboard of a nearby school to summon help. The message that even the smallest among us can help others will not be lost on children, and neither will the poetic language: "A humpback whale, immensely long,/Who sang to the snail a wonderful song/Of shimmering ice and coral caves/And shooting stars and enormous waves." Donaldson's smooth, sprightly rhyming scheme buoys the story and never falters. The flat, cartoonish look of Scheffler's multimedia illustrations perfectly complements the tone of the text. The rollicking language and bright pictures make this a great choice for reading aloud.--Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
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Review

Along with providing a resonant environmental message, the story lightly demonstrates that friendships come in all shapes and sizes. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803729227
• ISBN-13: 978-0803729223
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Marine Life
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders

More About the Author

Julia Donaldson is the author of many successful books for children, including the classic THE GRUFFALO, which has won the Smarties Prize and the Blue Peter Award for the Best Book to Read Aloud. THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD was one of the biggest best-sellers of 2004 and won WHS Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Julia has also written many children's plays and songs, and runs regular storytelling and drama workshops. She lives in Glasgow with her family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT, April 15, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snail and the Whale (Hardcover)

Rhyming texts are always appealing to young ears, and this adventure tale by Julia Donaldson is no exception.

A tiny sea snail lives on a rock overlooking the sea. The more he looks at the sea the more he dreams of sailing around it. Ignoring the advice of his fellow snails who want him to stay put he posts a sign on the rock: "Ride wanted around the world." As they say, nothing ventured nothing gained.

One night a giant humpback whale came to the rock and invited the snail to sail with him. It didn't take the snail but a second to decide - he hopped on the whale's tail and they were off.

They saw many wonders: icebergs, penguins, mountains, golden sands, underwater caves. Such excitement!

But one day there was a bit too much excitement as racing speedboats forced the whale to swim too close to shore. Then as it does every day, the tide went out leaving "the whale beached in a bay."

Now, how can a tiny snail possibly save his friend the whale?

Youngsters will love this story's ending, and also learn a valuable lesson.

- Gail Cooke

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!, May 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Snail and the Whale (Hardcover)

This is the best book my daughter and I have read in a while. She is 4, and I have been reading it to her every day since we got it. We liked it so much that we had to check out all of the other Julia Donaldson books. We also love Room on the Broom. Both of these are fun rhyming books that tell a wonderful story.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful Book, April 20, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Snail and the Whale (Hardcover)

We just received this book and it has already become one of my son's favorites. We had to read it twice the day it came and he is asking for it every night. It is a beautiful book, I fell in love with it the first time I read it to him. The text flows smoothly, the story is wonderful, it shows how even if your different you can get along and help one another. It also teaches that it doesn't matter what size you are , you can make a difference. The illustrations are wonderful, alot of detail and color. Just all around one of the best books I have ever purchased.