Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday Book Reviews: The Legend of the Golden Snail


I have mentioned before on this blog that I review Children's, Tweens, and YA books for Sacramento Book Review.

Sacramento Book Review also has a sister company in the San Francisco Book Review.

Starting today, on Fridays I will post one of my reviews with links back to the above two sites where you can read even more reviews by other reviewers. (These sites also offer reviews in other genres besides Children's, Tweens, and YA books. But I'm thinking that most readers of my blog will probably be interested in the above three categories.)

Okay, so...

I had the opportunity to read and review a fabulous picture book: The Legend of the Golden Snail, by Graeme Base. Read the review below, then go to SBR and SFBR to read other reviewers' reviews, and do leave a comment, please -- both here, and at the reviews you visit.


The Legend of the Golden Snail

By Graeme Base
Abrams Books For Young Readers, $19.95, 46 pages

Wilbur’s favorite tale is the one of the Golden Snail who was made captive by a Grand Enchanter before being banished to the Ends of the Earth. There the Golden Snail awaits a new master who can sail to the site and utter a magic spell. Wilbur decides he is just that person. Off he sails on his little boat, with his mother’s reminder to wear his hat.

But Wilbur has a kind nature. On the way to the Ends of the Earth, kind deeds slow him down from his quest. He suspects he’s not much of a Grand Enchanter after all. When he encounters the Dreadful Doldrums and the Slithering Sea and the Maze of Madness, he discovers those kind deeds have not been wasted. Further surprises await him at the Ends of the Earth, where he finds the Golden Snail is not quite the snail he expected.

Graeme Base’s text flows. His illustrations are magical. It is easy to suspend disbelief as Wilbur encounters fantastical creatures on his voyage. It is easy to believe Wilbur’s discovery of what makes him really special.

Visit:

Sacramento Book Review and

San Francisco Book Review


8 comments:

  1. Thank you for your kind comment about my brother's passing away. And that you had a brother with similar problems makes us a bit of kindred spirits, I think! Yes, it has been difficult, and there has been much grieving in the past. But I know he's in a good place now where he's no longer suffering from his earthly afflictions and can make progress.

    I love your blog. I love YA literature. I have many ideas I think I'm going to try. I was going to work on another memoir, which is half written. But I'd like to do something different for awhile. Write fictional family stories in for YAs and Tweens. So I'm very interested in your reviews in these genres, and in the links. !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely review, Elizabeth. I always enjoy your book reviews. I feel I am enjoying Picture Books more now than as a kid. :)

    Will check out the links.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you are checking out the links, Richard. I'm enjoying your reminiscences of Paris.

    Ann, if you start writing book for children, I know they will be terrific. I love your writing style already; it's so expressive.

    Rachna, I agree. I LOVE picture books now, and I don't really remember much about the picture books I read as a child. I mostly remember the books I read when I was older.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like a fantastic picture book full of adventure for the little ones. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I didn't realise Graeme Base was still doing picture books! I love his artwork. It's truly amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi, Lynda,
    Yes, it is so amazing. I was smitten with the story & text, but the art was like jeweled tapestries. Just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments and will respond to them. However, any comments left by "Anonymous" will be automatically deleted.