A tiny sea snail with an itchy foot hitches a ride on the fluke of a massive humpback whale to see the world. As they traverse the globe, the pair encounters towering icebergs, volcanic islands, and coral reefs filled with colorful fish. The narrative shifts when the whale loses its way due to the noise of speedboats and becomes stranded on a beach. The snail must crawl to a nearby school and use its slime trail to write a message on a blackboard, summoning the local children and fire brigade to save its giant companion.
This picture book is for young children and parents who appreciate rhyming verse and detailed illustrations of the natural world. Readers learn that physical size does not determine one's ability to help others or make a difference in an emergency. The story provides a sense of perspective regarding the scale of the planet while illustrating the mechanics of a symbiotic friendship. Children walk away with an understanding that small actions can solve large problems and that curiosity about the world outside one's home is a virtue.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2003
- Language
- EN
