Snail and Worm: Three Stories About Two Friends

Three brief stories introduce two unlikely pals. Worm is down-to-earth while Snail is a dreamer, but they bond over small victories and common interests (both have unusual pets). Simple text with color-coded dialogue includes some good jokes that rely gleefully on the mixed-media illustrations to hit their punch lines.

These three humorous episodes of friendship, illustrated with appealing cartoon-like artwork, will be sure to entertain. Featuring short, simple sentences; different-colored type that identifies each character’s dialogue; and ample white space; the book is well suited to beginning readers. Kids will enjoy Snail and Worm’s moments of cluelessness. For example, in the second story, after much dedicated climbing (“I am so small. The flower is very, very tall.”) while Worm offers encouragement (“You can do it!”), Snail successfully reaches the top of a flower stem (“I DID IT!”). But instead of being high up in the air as he thinks, his weight has pulled the flower to a near-horizontal position and he is hovering just above the ground. The cheerful illustrations make effective use of panels, minimal backgrounds, and lively facial expressions.

In three brief stories, Kügler introduces new readers to two unlikely pals. "Meet My Friend" begins with eager-beaver Snail trying to organize a game of tag: "Hello! Want to play?...Can you catch me? No! No! No!" It's no surprise the gastropod has the upper hand: Snail is talking to a rock (and not even a sentient one at that). When Worm approaches, curious about the game, a new friendship is formed. They bond over small victories (Snail climbs a flower while Worm acts as cheerleader in "Snail's Adventure") and common interests ("Meet My Pet" reveals that they both have unusual pets). Like lots of easy-reader duos -- Frog and Toad, Elephant and Piggie, Bink and Gollie, to name a few -- there's an odd-couple dynamic at work: Worm is down-to-earth (which seems fitting), while Snail is more of a dreamer. Unlike the similarly levelheaded Toad, Gerald, and Gollie, however, Worm doesn't suffer from know-it-all-itis. The invertebrate remains sincere, loyal, and guileless throughout, even when Snail is being very silly. Kügler's simple text, all in color-coded dialogue, includes some good jokes that rely gleefully on the mixed-media illustrations to hit their punch lines: Snail, from atop the flower, eyes on shell, says, "Wow! I can see my house!" Though the pictures almost all take place on the same patch of ground, their variety of format -- panels, spots, full pages, spreads, thought bubbles -- keeps things lively while helping direct the eyes of readers looking for a laugh. elissa gershowitz