The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail

by Lynn E. Hazen, Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Overview

Seymour has always dreamed of being a great artist. But he's shy about showing his artwork and, being a snail, he's slow. Who will hire him?

When Seymour finds a job at the Speedy Arts Gallery, he is thrilled— until he finds himself sliming envelopes shut and delivering packages. Well, even great artists have to start somewhere. And who knows? Seymour's big break might be just around the corner!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805086980
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/12/2009
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

LYNN E. HAZEN writes books for children of all ages. She lives in San Francisco, California.



DOUG CUSHMAN has illustrated many books for young readers and written a bunch, too, including the Aunt Eater series. He lives in Paris, France.

Editorial Reviews

Young gradeschoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big––the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for the small creature, who oozes along at a snail's pace but triumphs in the end.” —Booklist

“Engaging characters and winning art create a solid addition to the field of transitional literature.” —Kirkus Reviews

“With only a few sentences and at least one illustration per page, this title is perfect for students transitioning to chapter books.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 1–3—Shy Seymour is a closet artist, specializing in puddle paintings, leaf prints, and mud sculptures. After his friends discover his talents, they encourage him to make a career of his art. A few phone calls later, Seymour lands a job at the Speedy Arts Gallery. "I'd better get going," he says. "I start tomorrow. And it's a whole block away!" But Seymour finds his duties disappointing: sealing envelopes and delivering packages are not what he had in mind, and his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug, seems impossible to please. Even worse, Seymour is working so hard that he can't find time to look at the work created by a mysterious new artist. With only a few sentences and at least one illustration per page, this title is perfect for students transitioning to chapter books. Some of the story's humor seems aimed more at adults than kids (a spider tells Seymour he's onto something big—the World Wide Web—and an earwig tells him, "the job market is sluggish"). However, Cushman's black-and-white cartoons delineate the characters and add humor and perspective. Readers will enjoy seeing how Seymour uses the phone and understand why a flight of stairs is such an obstacle for him. Suggest this for readers not quite ready for Katie Speck's Maybelle in the Soup (Holt, 2007).—Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

School Library Journal

Budding artist Seymour the Snail gains experience by working at a local gallery. Employed by the demanding Mr. Stink Bug, shy Seymour struggles with mundane tasks and hears rumors that there is an inspiring artist in town. When the artist's identity is revealed, Seymour's world changes dramatically. The brief chapters assist readers transitioning from beginning fiction to longer selections. Detailed, shaded drawings fill each page and provide emotional depth. Seymour Snail is an endearing artist; with his tilted beret and paintbrush in mouth, he paints with passion. Cushman's anthropomorphized bugs from the art gallery are a hoot; their sunglasses, beaded necklaces and high heels portray their fast-paced lifestyle. Creative wordplay abounds: Slow Seymour works as the Speedy Art Gallery, and jokes often serve the older reader. The spider with the business card shares, "I'm onto something big. It's called the World Wide Web." Engaging characters and winning art create a solid addition to the field of transitional literature. (Fantasy. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews