“In a hurry Important Journey! Mustn’t be late!” says elephant. Snail doesn’t want to be late either, BUT he just can’t go any FASTER…! Where is Snail going? Will he get there in time? At last it all becomes clear – when little Snail arrives safely at Noah’s Ark

Review: Snail is on a journey and it's taking him a long time. Along the way he encounters other creatures, who also seem to be heading the same way and each one is in a hurry. Children will enjoy the surprise as they find out where Snail and all the animals were heading.

The book also features a novelty element of fold-out poster of animals and Ark with two snails to find. Finally he's picked up gently by Noah who reassures him that the door to the Ark wouldn't have been shut before Snail arrived (and there's another Snail waiting for him)

This book is ideal for Key Stage 1, as a group read or a read aloud text. The text issimple yet descriptive and is easy to read and understand. 'It's hard to hurry when you're a snail,' is Snail's repeated refrain. The readers will all be intrigued to find where all the animals are heading…

Dorothy Stewart tells a fantastic story using some excellent literary devices for the young children. Children will love to read the adverbs and the alliteration in the text, for example: ‘slithery snake’. The class teacher can use this text as a stimulus for the children to create their own desacriptions  for the same/different animals giving practise in using adjectives. This book is also ideal for the EAL learners as it can be used as an activity to stimulate discussion fulfilling the speaking and listening requirements from the National Curriculum.

2008-08-05