The Snail and the Whale Paperback – Picture Book, April 6, 2006

I have been following the works of Julia Donaldson for the last three years. My son was born in the UK where we lived until last year and she is a very popular author with many best selling children's books. My favorites, so far, are sharing a shell, what the lady bird heard, Taby McTat as well as her most famous work: The Gruffalo. Not all her books are easy to find through US based vendors but somehow this one was an exception. I could get it fast through amazon without having to wait an overseas shipment from the UK.This book has two main characters: A snail with an adventurous soul who wants to go to places beyond the horizons and explore the world. That character points out the reader that our imagination can go far beyond our capabilities and a way make it happen can be found like in this case. Snail manages to write a note ' I want to see the world' on the rock it lives on and a whale somehow notices this and offers a ride on the tail. They visit exotic places as see different animals and lands until one day the whale gets lost and dragged to the shore. Being unable to turn back, his time starts running low since whales can not survive long on the shore.There comes the help from the little passenger. It crawls to the local school to seek for help and manages to write a message on the blackboard : 'save the whale'. The students and the teachers read it and notify the local rescue team who come and save the whale by dragging him back to the sea. No matter how small you are, you can always be of help if you really want is the second take home message from this small child book.The story ends in a happy way in which they both find their way back home. After that colorful experience whale keeps offering this ride to other snail inhabitants of the rock as a gratitude for the help he received from the little one.A pleasant read for a child with many attractive pictures and good easy to understand text. Yet again a good read for an adult too.

Love this story, my kids loved this book and now I still gift it to little ones! Sweet story about taking an adventure with a friend! Great illustration as well! Perfect gift, especially if you little on loves animals or the beach! My kids had this in their library from birth and recall writing their first “sequence” book report in second grade using this book. They still love when they see it! This book is memorable!

This book arrived in great condition and I think my grandson will love the story and pictures. I wish it had been available in the Board Book format like the Gruffalo book but I'm still glad I purchased. The illustrations are cute and my grandson lives near the sea so it's especially appropriate. Can't wait to read it to him!

In "The Snail and the Whale," we are taken on a breathtaking journey across the ocean as a tiny snail hitchhikes on the tail of a magnificent whale. Julia Donaldson's signature rhymes and rhythmic prose make for an engaging read-aloud experience that's perfect for bedtime or storytime. 📚💫What I love most about Julia Donaldson's books is her ability to impart important life lessons in a way that's accessible and enjoyable for young readers. Through the unlikely friendship between the snail and the whale, children learn about courage, resilience, and the power of teamwork. 🌊🐌🐳It's a timeless classic that will be treasured by generations of readers for years to come. 🌟💕

This is a book that's fun for the parent to read, which is so important! The rhythm and rhymes of the prose are great, and the illustrations draw my 11 month old's attention. The moral of the story is a good one too - even little creatures can have a big impact. (Similarly, see The Littlest Yak - another great read!)We purchased this book because it was the same author as Room on the Broom, and we weren't disappointed. Looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

The media could not be loaded. My kids are big Julia Donaldson fans. This story has her signature wit, humor, and rhyming, plus fun, quirky illustrations. It's a cute story, but out of all the Julia Donaldson books we own (The Gruffalo, Where's My Mom?, and Room On The Broom), this was least captivating for my kids. I would recommend those I listed before this one, but still cute!**Video is long because it shows the entire book. Drives me nuts to have to purchase childrens books without a quick view of the whole story to see if they'd actually enjoy it!