When We Were Snails

PreS-Gr 3–A beautifully illustrated story about the relationship between a mother and daughter. A young Asian girl and her mother call themselves snails because they travel constantly and live with their homes in their backpacks. One day, the mother must leave the daughter with her grandparents in China for an extended period. Their special connection (and a box of crayon) carries the daughter through her loneliness until they are finally reunited and able to carry on their adventurous lifestyle. The theme of being a snail also appears as a life lesson, in response to bullying, about going at your own pace no matter what others may think. The story is told in a series of compelling first-person memories. The voice is soothing and flows in a gentle lyrical style. The illustrations, done with a combination of watercolor, pastels, pencils, digital elements, and collage, are full of color, emotion and connection which creates empathy for readers.