From the #1 bestselling creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo comes a touching tale of adventure and friendship that proves even the smallest creatures can have a big impact. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST PICTURE BOOK OF THE CENTURY When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale, the two travel together to far-off lands. It's a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend? With vibrant illustrations and rhymes that are both playful and lyrical, The Snail and the Whale is an epic exploration into the beauty of this world, and a powerful reminder that love comes in all shapes and sizes. PreSchool-Grade 3--A tiny mollusk that longs to see the world hitches a ride aboard a humpback whale in this charming picture book. After seeing far-off islands, underwater caves, and storm-filled skies, the snail feels impossibly small--until the whale is beached in a harbor, and she saves the day by writing a note on the blackboard of a nearby school to summon help. The message that even the smallest among us can help others will not be lost on children, and neither will the poetic language: "A humpback whale, immensely long,/Who sang to the snail a wonderful song/Of shimmering ice and coral caves/And shooting stars and enormous waves." Donaldson's smooth, sprightly rhyming scheme buoys the story and never falters. The flat, cartoonish look of Scheffler's multimedia illustrations perfectly complements the tone of the text. The rollicking language and bright pictures make this a great choice for reading aloud.--Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. "Along with providing a resonant environmental message, the story lightly demonstrates that friendships come in all shapes and sizes.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review Julia Donaldson lives in Glasgow, Scotland.