Snippet the Early Riser

PreS-Gr 2—Snippet, a young snail, wants his family to wake up and play. His friends try to help rouse them: Grasshopper by bouncing on the leaf bed, Firefly by turning on his light, and so on. But Snippet gets inspiration as he watches Caterpillar chew on a leaf, and his quest to wake up the others culminates in a tour-de-force scheme of breakfast in bed. This charming story highlights creative problem solving. Expressive, cartoonlike watercolor and ink illustrations are awash in greens and blues, and the characters come alive through the tilt of their heads, sounds, and silly or serious comments in speech bubbles. Endpapers include a few facts about snails. Great fodder for those looking for picture books that focus on the creative process.—Sara Lissa Paulson, The American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City