Snail, Where are You?

by Tomi Ungerer

Snail, where are you? At a party? At sea? In the mountains? Young sleuths will have hours of fun finding Tomi Ungerer's snail in his many disguises. This beautiful, classic concept book, first published in 1962, has been re-imagined in an all-new lift-the-flap format with added text to enhance the playful illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer was a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is very much in the eye spy category. The first page has the question Snail, Where are you? Each of the following pages has a picture in which one or more items has details that look like the snail but isn't the snail. Finally, on the last page the snail is discovered. My almost 5 year old grandson thoroughly enjoyed looking for the details in the picture to find the things that looked similar to the snail's shell.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mostly-wordless picture book is really about spirals, not snails, which was a minor disappointment (I was hoping for a plot), but still cute.



Because the review and book are both very short, have a bonus picture of the author drawing a snail:

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My edition simple, new, purple-background cover. "Witty and wacky" indeed. Almost wordless. It's like a concept book for shapes for tots, only not: it's only the snail/ nautilus shape we're meant to find, and the reason to read the book is more for the wickedly funny & almost surreal art than for the concept. No plot or punchline; just a set of pix. I liked it, even though it's the kind of thing I often don't.

[Tony Vacation]

The gentle uncle of Junji Ito's Uzumaki.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a (mostly) wordless book, a hide and seek for the tell-tale swirls and spirals of the snail shell. The boldly colorful illustrations are whimsical and most hide multiple iterations of the design. In the end, the question is answered satisfactorily, but the fun is in the hunt.

[mindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh my goodness, ezra loved this. It wouldn't have even made my "read" list if he hadn't loved it so much.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
spirals are everywhere if you look closely; lift-a-flap format with bright colors; not a storybook

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how I missed this classic picture book by Tomi Ungerer, first published by Harper & Row in 1962 and re-imagined as a lift-the-flap book in 2005. It popped up on a recent list of best wordless/nearly wordless picture books that are influencing graphic novels for children.

The Question is asked on each page/2-page spread: "Snail, where are you?" A cutaway of a snail is seen. With the lift of the flap, the reader sees that the "snail" is a cochleate/snail-shaped object that replies what it is doing, i.e. riding the waves, holding up the roof, looking at you. The last question in the book: "How many snails do you count?"

The simple text would make this appropriate as a beginning reader, if the font had been a more formal sans serif. The use of curlicues (snails?) in letters such as a, e, g, and y, and in the question marks make it whimsical, but more complicated. Use of bright, bold colors and cartoonish images make it visually very kid-friendly. By adding the last question, Ungerer has made this book a game - to go back and see how many snails are in the book - 33 or 29?

Recommended for Toddler - K.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. You find a "snail" in different places, and the snail is always part of a larger scene. I'm not sure that I loved it as a concept book for kids, but it might be fun for a younger kid and a parent to read together.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book that opens up discussion about snails and similar shapes found in the world that curl, like a curleque from ice skates, like a wave, like a jester's shoes. Charming, classic, old-school illustrations with little text except for the first and last pages.

[Geoff Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is mostly a picture book, there is only one written question which is at the end of the book. So where is Snail ? have fun searching through the pictures and make sure you check out the pigs (they were my favourites) see more about it here https://www.anagregoryteaching.co.uk/...

[Shems Guellouz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustration with lots of heart! I loved the use of empty space to create depth and dimension or to draw the eye to certain places. Though I would have liked it a little more if all the illustration followed some sort of plot.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and clever. How many "snails" can you find?

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very spare conceptually though visually rich, Ungerer's celebration of the snail's spiral will be enjoyed by very young readers who will not need abundant text.

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicht so nett gemacht wie das Schuh Wo Bist Du Buch. Meine Tochter hat es überhaupt nicht interessiert (24-25 Monate).

[Vrinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this simple, “I spy” type book (2005 edition has a lift-the-flap component). I’ve always loved snails, and found this quite sweet and whimsical.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this fun wordless picture book. lots of kid appeal --will enjoy spotting the curlicue/s of the snail in each photo. Very 70s bright colors. First published in German in 1973.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests, you are finding the snail hidden on every page. The artwork is weird but fun. Very different from most pictures books published in the U.S.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome colours, fun interactive book - an Ungerer's amazing illustrations.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator searches for the snail throughout this lift-the-flap picture book.

Each two page spread features the narrator’s question "Snail, where are you?" and a peek-through cutout showing what appears to be the spiral of snail’s shell, but when the reader lifts the flap, something other than a snail is revealed. Thus, the search continues page after page until the snail is finally found.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book. Each page asks where the snail is, and shows a cut out revealing a curled snail shell. When you unfold the flap to see the whole picture it turns out that the curled snail shell is really a curl of hair, or the curl of an ionic column, etc.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clever lift-the-flap book. There's a snail on every page, but when you lift the flap, you see that the snail is part of a larger drawing. Good for storytimes.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly like this book because I like snails. Ungerer's drawings are cute though.

[Jj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly? I don't think you can ever go wrong with a Tomi Ungerer book. Bravo!

[Huda Fel · Rating 3 out of 5]

where can you see a snail?

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost a wordless book and more of a look and find set-up for swirls/spirals/snails. The illustrations are nothing fancy.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers can see the shape of the snail all throughout the story in different formations, such as the waves of the ocean or the arms of a couch.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

High concept lift-the-flap book that sees snail shapes in a number of different illustrations.

[Bridgid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spirals have a place in many items! Also a counting book. Opposites, too - above, below.

[Xanthippe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! After one read my 2-year old started "reading" it back to me.