SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

November 14, 2018 by Esther Keller

Review: Snails Are Just My Speed!

November 14, 2018 by Esther Keller   Leave a Comment

snailsmyspeedTrue story: When my son was in first or second grade, I gave him Kevin McCloskey’s The Real Poop on Pigeons and my son refused to believe that he was reading a nonfiction title. McCloskey has a knack for showing interesting tidbits to make a topic come alive in a wacky sort of way. He does it again in this year’s release.

Snails Are Just My Speed! (Giggle and Learn)
Kevin McCloskey
Toon Books, $12.95
Ages 5-8

In this fourth installment of TOON Books’ early reader science series, Kevin McCloskey once again creates an engaging work of nonfiction that will have kids screaming, “Gross!” and, like the series title says, “Laugh and Learn.”

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The book is relatively slim, but it’s chock-full of facts, like how the snail’s slow speed is beneficial, because it makes it harder for predators to see it. McClosky appeals to kid’s love/hate relationship with the ick factor by talking about the many uses of mucus and about snails as food.

The rich artwork, with lush colors against a soft beige background, will keep readers’ eyes focused on the page. The words follow the illustrations, curving and slanting with the artwork.

Young readers will glean many solid facts and have a lot of fun learning them.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
early readerskevin mccloskeynonfictionreviewscienceToon Books

About Esther Keller

Esther Keller is the librarian at JHS 278, Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. There she started the library's first graphic novel collection and strongly advocated for using comics in the classroom. She also curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ and School Library Connection (formerly LMC). In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Young Agatha Christie | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

Andy Warner's Oddball Histories: Pests and Pets | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

History Comics: Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin | Review

by Esther Keller

December 2022

Heartstopper Volumes 1 and 2 | Review

by Esther Keller

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Surprise! Announcing CABOOSE

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

The Archie Encyclopedia | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

TLT Post: WRITING FOR YOURSELF FIRST, a guest post by author M. K. Lobb

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

18 Superb Graphic Novel Adaptations for Kids and Teens

8 Pitch-Perfect Manga for Music-Loving Teens | Mondo Manga

Best Graphic Novels 2020 | SLJ Best Books

Picturing Historical Japan: Shonen and shoujo manga bring the country’s past eras to life

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023