Snails

Children's Literature

This entry in the "Wild Wild World" series contains an animal overview, interesting facts subcategorized by headings of double-page spreads (e.g., "The Snail Body," "Snail Enemies," "Eating," and "Staying Moist") and numerous close-ups arranged artistically or sequentially to illustrate a concept. Photographs lack captions and surround and face the short paragraphs of text that appear on each page. For instance, a page of snails climbing shows six different surfaces on which snails may climb while text does the job of captions. While a child does not to have to read much text or go far to discover what the photographs portray, by not using captions the series misses the chance to educate children as to how to "read" the photos more deeply or to confirm what we think is being pictured. Opening photographs illustrate a number of snail shell designs but the greater bulk of the book shows the same type of snail. This book also features a random cartoon illustration of baby snails in ties and bows crawling around a parent-sized shell on a page discussing staying moist. The two-word glossary and lack of an index make this an additional purchase for most libraries. It might be useful as for families to read as an introduction to the topic with good pictures for conversation that leads to research in other more completely realized texts. 2003, Blackbirch Press/Gale Group, Ages 7 to 11.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.