Henry the Snail by Katarina Macurova

 I loved Macurova's silly Upside down, showing the different responses of animals and above and below ground to a giant carrot, and was interested to see what she came up with in this new story.

Henry, a pasty white snail with a brown shell, appears as two eyestalks peering out of a shell, on the head of a worm, in a forest of green leaves and raindrops. He immediately tries to imitate the other snails, big hefty creatures with smart tentacle mustaches, but discovers he's a little different - he has no slime. His attempts to climb all end with him tumbling to the ground and he is left behind, isolated and alone.

Henry tries to recreate snail slime but then comes up with another idea while watching an ant. After much effort, he makes it halfway up the stalk of a plant, only to be too exhausted to continue. An unexpected friend comes to his rescue and not only is world of the garden opened to him, but he discovers that help is there for the asking and enjoys both teaching and learning. The story ends with a delightful bug circus and a cozy scene of the snails and their friends showing off their new skills.

I really like Macurova's delicate drawings and, no matter how you feel about snails, the portrayal of the miniature world of the garden is irresistible. This is a also a celebration of differences; Henry can't make it on his own, but freely asks for help. In return, he teaches the other creatures his own skills and doesn't feel bad that he's no longer the only snail with his unique talents.

Verdict: A celebration of community, cooperation, and determination that will work well both in storytimes and classroom settings.

ISBN: 9788000067933; Published June 2023 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library