Customer Reviews

The Snarth Goes to School

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Hart and Sergi have crafted a tale of two school children helping their friend---an outlandish-looking, ageless, and wise alien being---fit into their school day. It took me a second reading to appreciate what my 7 1/2 year old knew right away. This was a story for today's multi-cultural, multi-generations.

Snarth, the main character, looks like nothing you've seen before: A horn of a snout, a spiky crown, huge kangaroo-like feet, pot belly, pink skin, freckles...believe me, no one has much experience with this character's looks.

Snarth's sentiments, though, are quite universal. He has lived nearly forever, and so knows lots of history---first hand. He is eternally curious about things---like you'd want any child to be. He wants to fit---like any child wants to be accepted.
He lives with the family of Katrina Mann. Katrina wants dearly to bring him to school, in order to increase her own standing and joy, as well as to enrich Snarth's life and that of the school's.

Things do not go so well in class. The excitement of Snarth's presence, and his eager curiosity get him into trouble, and the School Principal decides to banish Snarth from the grounds. That does not go so well either, as Snarth finds a way to return to play with the children. And attend class. It is especially in History class that Snarth is able to show the fruits of his experience, by recounting first-hand the stories dryly written in the school texts. In fact, he is able to bring history alive for the entire school---including for the principal.

There is nothing but sweet inspiration in this story. It teaches us friendship, patience, tolerance, and the benefits of looking deeper into even our chance acquaintances' hearts and spirits. Suited for 1st to 4th graders, ideally, I thought.