The Snoops [Hardcover]

Miriam Moss (Author), Delphine Durand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up

This devilishly funny story about a family of Peeping Toms is custom-made for the debut of Delphine Durand's edgy, funky style of illustration that perfectly captures every hilarious detail. Peeking and prying busybodies, the Snoops know everything about everybody who lives on Keyhole Place--they see Miss Spankie (who lost her hankie) wiping her nose on her sleeve; Loco Louie painting Mr. Cramp's cat; and even Slippery Sam slinking off through the bushes after stealing a kiss. But the riled residents find a way to turn the tables when they snoop on the Snoops--and the reader can join them! By peeking into a keyhole-shaped concertina, children can catch the embarrassing antics of the Snoops at home. Refreshingly irreverent, Moss is not afraid to be a little naughty--the Snoops record everything from Mr. James' leopard-print underpants to an extensive map of what the dog did where. Both kids and adults will get a kick out of the rhythmic, bawdy text complemented by Durand's outrageously illustrated cast of characters.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vandalism, romance, embarrassing mishaps?the Snoops don't miss a thing in their neighborhood. Dedicated voyeurism and a passion for their work have sharpened all their senses: "They don't miss Michael Harries wiping off his mother's kiss. Or the price tag on Tilly Toddler's new shoes"; "They even sniff out which dog did which poop where, and plot it on a graph." Readers get the scoop through the eyes of the Snoops, until the binoculars are turned on the last page, which offers a 3-D peek into number nine Keyhole Place. There readers can spy the Snoops themselves, picking their noses, practicing karaoke and snarfing chocolates while clad only in underwear. Moss's (Jigsaw) text creates a hushed, conspiratorial tone and creepily paranoid atmosphere. Spidery, crudely rendered hand-lettered text sets off the eccentric style of French artist Durand's cartoon illustrations, often framed by a keyhole, raised blinds or a binocular shape. Her thick, rubbery-limbed people, with eyeballs way atop their heads, are surrounded by toothy birds and bulb-nosed cats and dogs, with spindly legs sticking out of burly bodies. The distinctive tone and general bad behavior will capture the imaginations of some readers, but the vision of mean-spirited and duplicitous life in a small town is sometimes more nasty than funny. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; First Edition edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525459723
• ISBN-13: 978-0525459729
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,712,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nos encantan las ilustraciones, July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Snoops (Hardcover)

La historia nos parece muy original y las ilustraciones le añaden una gran fuerza al relato. Sobre todo nos ha encantado la ultima página. Bravo!

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the Illustrations, but the story could be improved, January 24, 2012

By 

EcoDesigner (Traveler) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Snoops (Hardcover)

I thought the book was very cute, though I must admit I loved the illustrations more than the text. I absolutely love Delphine Durand's illustrations!

The story is cute, and the topic of "Snoops" is one that's funny and not overdone. But something about the text: the word choices, meter, etc., was a bit awkward to me. I couldn't tell whether this book was supposed to rhyme or not. It certainly seemed like it was intended to rhyme (in the sense that the word choices were sometimes very awkward), but it did not rhyme. Perhaps it was written in another language besides English, and translated without rhyme? That would explain things.

Overall, I'd still very much recommend the book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Pop up surprise at the end!, May 6, 2011

By 

C. Chen "Toddler Mom" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snoops (Hardcover)

My son loves this book! He is now 4, but he first fell in love with this book at 2yrs. Unfortunately then he also tore the accordion-style pop up at the end but we are very careful now. The unusual cartoon-ish illustrations are artfully done, but still vey much appeal to the toddler/preschool set as well as parents. The rhymes are fun, and he really likes each "suspicious and secretive" deed that the Snoops discover. This would be a nice gift for the child who is learning about secrets, is learning hide and seek or is starting to find mysteries fun.