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?
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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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Charming . . . Rollicking language and bright pictures make this a great choice for reading aloud. -- School Library Journal
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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
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format: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.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not sure why, but if you click on the "Paperback" version of this book, you will get the "Activity Book" and not the actual book. You need to click on "Mass Market Paperback" to get an actual copy of the book. I'm going to keep the "Activity Book" because 1) Not worth paying to ship it back and 2) it looks like it might be more fun after we actually read the story. But just wanted people to be beware that they are getting the right book when ordering.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By J. H. Sweet
Format:Hardcover
I absolutely love this book. It is a classic tale with a friendship reminiscent of Wilbur and Charlotte, though expressed in much fewer words. This is an exceptional book with beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story - perfect for all ages. The adventurous spirit and courage of our tiny hero is remarkable, proving that even the smallest of us can make a huge difference in the world. This is truly a prize book for my collection, and one I will enjoy reading again and again for years to come.
J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles
J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
My children and I love this book! The rhyming verses just flow beautifully, holding my children's attention as well as mine. I have yet to tire of reading this out loud to them. The pictures are wonderful and we love the snail! Not only is it fun to read but it has a great message for children. This will remain one of my all time favorite children's books.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Michelle
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My two and a half year old son loves this book! The illustraions are wonderful and he follows the story. It's one of the best books we have. Highly recommend!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is absolutely fabulous. My 4-year old loves whales and marine life, so a whale and a snail having an adventure was right up her alley. The language is beautiful and easy for my 8 year old to read. I would recommend this book to any parent--it also has the "fable" to it of the small helping the large, when the snail helps the whale who's beached himself.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE ---
YES, this is one of our FAVORITE TAILS, those of THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE, and WE ARE BIG KIDS AKA ADULTS, and we delight in having this book in our libraries as one of our most... Read more
Published 20 hours ago by Amazonia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just lovely!
Great story, I love reading this book with my son. Have lots of books from this author but this is probably my favourite. Captured my son's attention too which is not easy! Read more
Published 19 days ago by Mrs L Henderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perennial Favorite
My son has loved this book since he was 2 years old... he is now 5, and it is still a favorite! Other books have come and gone, but this one is still frequently requested as... Read more
Published 1 month ago by E&CMom
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute book
My 3-year-old son and I like this book, but like others said - it would be more interesting if they would've put in more details and fun info about the different places the snail... Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Childs
3.0 out of 5 stars
cute story
Like the story but it needed a bit more zip or pizzaz I think. Was a fun read but didn't seem to hold my grandbabies interest.
Published 2 months ago by Jackie Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book for young and old alike
My grandson & I love this book , the story of enduring friendship is one to teach all people, young and old. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Valerie Thom Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great Julia Donalson story
The Snail and the Whale is another darling story about a snail who wants to see the world and a whale that travels to far off waters... Read more
Published 2 months ago by christine wardwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A family favorite
My kids read this book to where now we don't need to read at all but can say it off-by-heart. They keep coming back to this and other J. Donaldson books. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Triona O'Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes!
This book is fun and cute and an excellent addition to the budding reader's library. My 3 y.o. and 6 y.o. love it. I highly recommend it.
Published 2 months ago by d.s.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Snail and the Whale
I enjoy reading this book, The Snail and the Whale to our grandson and he enjoys me reading it to him.
Published 2 months ago by Mary J Sickles
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