Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Tiny Tales: Shell Quest by Steph Waldo

 This is part of I Can Read's new comic series. Each one starts with a simple explanation of comics, from panels to word bubbles, as well as how to follow the storyline. I Can Read has its own leveling system, but also gives the Guided Reading Level, which is K for this title.

In the dark green forest of a backyard, a yellow slug is lonely. When they run into two other creatures, who look just like them except with shells, they find out that all snails have shells. Why doesn't our narrator? They don't know, but the slugs assure them that if they get a shell they can play together!

Slug tries lots of different shells, but none of them work just right and though the snails check to make sure they're ok after each disaster, they always say "come back when you have a shell." Finally, a kind snail offers to help Slug find a shell and to be friends, shell or not. The two are traveling together when they are swept away by a rush of rainwater and end up in a log. There they meet... another slug without a shell and Slug realizes they are just the way they should be! Slug and their snail friend happily join into a diverse group of creatures in the log, from roly-polys to worms, and the slug knows they have found the perfect spot. A final note explains some of the differences between slugs and snails. 

Steph Waldo's art is full of cheerful big eyes and lots of earthy oranges and browns. It's a sweet story about finding your place and accepting who you are.

Verdict: A fun addition to the growing volume of early graphic novels.

ISBN: 9781544456546; Follettbound edition published July 2021; Purchased for the library

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