The Snail and the Whale
 | |
| Author | Julia Donaldson |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Imelda Staunton (on the AC release) David Tennant, (only on the CD release) |
| Illustrator | Axel Scheffler |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fantasy |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
Publication date | 2003 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-0-330-51734-8 |
| OCLC | 51898638 |
The Snail and the Whale is a children's picture book written by former children's laureate Julia Donaldson, illustrated by longtime collaborator Axel Scheffler. It has won several awards, including 2004 Early Years award for the best pre-school book, the 2005 Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud, and the 2007 Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book. The Snail and the Whale has also been adapted into an audiobook, a successful stage play and translated into British Sign Language.
Donaldson has said that it is one of her favourite books, due to its similarity in rhyming style to the works of Edward Lear, of which she was particularly fond as a child.[1]
Plot
A little snail lives in a flock, on a rock by the docks, and longs to see the wider world. After she writes an advert for a lift wanted around the world, a humpback whale arrives one night and offers to take her travelling. The pair see many sights along their way until one day the whale, confused by the noise of a group of racing speedboats, swims into a bay and is left beached by the retreating tide.
In an effort to help her friend, the snail crawls to a nearby school, and asks for help by writing on the blackboard. The children fetch the emergency services, and the local people and the fire department help to keep the whale wet until the tide turns, and the whale and the snail are able to refloat and swim safely away.
They return to the snail's home in the docks, where the other snails are suitably impressed by the travellers' tales, and the whale offers to take them all away to travel around the world.
Recognition
The book won the Early Years award for the best pre-school book in 2004,[2] the Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud, 2005,[3] and the Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book 2007.[4]
The audio book won the 2004 Spoken Book gold award for best audio for 6 and under.
Adaptations and editions
The book is currently available as a paperback, a board book, a colouring book, an activity and sticker book, an audiobook with an accompanying audio CD, a magnetic book and a "Read Along" book with an accompanying audio tape.
The audio book with an accompanying audio tape, is narrated by actor Imelda Staunton. The audio book with an accompanying compact disc is narrated by actor David Tennant.
The Snail and the Whale was adapted for the stage by the theatre company Tall Stories in 2012, and has been on tour around the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.
Reviews
The reviews for The Snail and the Whale are overwhelmingly positive, both critically and from the general public.
The Times called it: 'Bold and brilliant, wise and wacky'.
The Guardian said it was 'a joy to read aloud', and included it a list of best children's books for ages 2 to 4.[5]
It currently receives 4.28 out of 5 stars on goodreads and 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and 5 stars on mumsnet.
Trivia
In one picture in the book, a child outside the school is drawing a Gruffalo in the dirt. This was the idea of illustrator Axel Scheffler, and has since become an inside joke repeated in many of their collaborative books published since.[6]
References
- ^ "Picture books by children's author, Julia Donaldson". www.juliadonaldson.co.uk.
- ^ "Error Page - BookTrust". www.booktrust.org.uk.
- ^ www.intexta.com, Intexta Web Services. "School Library Association". www.sla.org.uk.
- ^ "15° Laboratory". www.15degreelab.com.
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-two-four-years
- ^ Rustin, Susanna (19 December 2009). "Interview with Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson". the Guardian.
External links
- [1] BSL video of The Snail and the Whale
- [2] Tall Stories stage adaptation
