A Surprise for Snail

Snail’s birthday wish to see the sun set over the ocean gets an assist from an unexpected friend in a sweet Petr Horácêk story set in a natural world glowing with deeply saturated colors.

It’s Snail’s birthday, and he decides he wants to see the sun set by the sea, which is a long way away. Soon he meets Mouse, who’s going in the same direction and offers to carry Snail on her back. “That’s what friends are for,” says Mouse. Then Snail runs into Frog, who takes him hopping another part of the distance. Snail is so tired by then that he climbs up on a large rock to rest, sad that he may not make it to the sea in time. But when he opens his eyes again, there it is: a brilliant sunset, right in front of him! “How did I get here?” wonders Snail, exclaiming at the sunset’s beauty. Could that be the voice of Tortoise below him, chiming in to agree? With a rich palette and a gentle narrative, picture book creator Petr Horácêk pays quiet tribute to friendship, kindness, and the wonders of nature—and, of course, special birthday wishes.Horácek’s collage illustrations are bright and cheerful with perfect scenes made from tissue paper that are as upbeat and snappy as the text. Pre-readers and older children will enjoy the small details in the pictures and delight in the ­onomatopoeia and the predictable ending. This is a lovely book celebrating friendship and kindness. A strong choice for any library’s picture book collection.
—School Library JournalPetr Horácêk grew up in Prague and trained as a graphic designer, illustrator, and painter. He has written and/or illustrated many books for children, including A Best Friend for Bear, Animal Opposites, Grumpy Duck, The Greedy Goat, Puffin Peter, The Best Place in the World, Tiny Owl’s Scary Day, and Who Is the Biggest? He lives in England.