How to Be Brave Like a Snail

PreS-Gr 3–Bravery comes in many forms, and sometimes the bravest acts are those performed among friends. Snail feels brave most of the time—but when it comes to considering whether or not to participate in the upcoming paper-airplane contest, he has a marked lack of courage. With the threat of failure looming, Snail bravely confides in Stump, who knows just how to help. And when the tables turn, Snail encourages and supports Stump through difficult moments, as well. This amusing story presents recognizable human feelings from the perspective of anthropomorphic forest characters. While it is an extension of the ongoing series, this book can be enjoyed whether readers have familiarity with the companion tales or not. Snail and best friend Stump are the primary protagonists, and their cartoon-like depictions and familiar dialogue will endear readers to them. Using a blend of word bubbles and narrative text, the book does a good job of explaining the plot in multiple ways while offering caregivers the opportunity to provide additional voices when the story is read aloud. Fans of Dashka Slater’s “Escargot” will recognize a similar character in Snail, and anyone who has ever struggled with the ability to express their own emotions will empathize with the experiences here.