Snail and Turtle are Friends

Snail and Turtle are Friends by Stephen Michael King (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-023-6

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Snail and Turtle are friends. They like to spend time with each other, doing things they enjoy, or just being quiet together. In this way they fill their day with each other's company.

With few words, this is a beautiful, gentle story about friendship, celebrating Snail and Turtle's differences as well as their similarities. Both aspects enhance their relationship.

Snail and Turtle are clever at hiding ... but never from each other.

The illustrations are lovely, full of bugs, insects, frogs, mushrooms and other things you may find in the back garden.  A soft humour runs through these pictures. When Snail and Turtle run, a flower petal in the breeze overtakes them. Turtle's crazy patterned shell and Snail's wild eyes make them characters you'd like to meet and they certainly have a close, comfortable friendship.

This picture book is full of colour, patterns and textures. The thick sturdy pages have areas of slightly raised illustration, such as a spider web and many, almost unseen, snail trails - just slightly glossier than the rest of the page. Young children will love this extra sensory element.

Perfect for pre-schoolers, this charming and funny story is a lovely bedtime read.