Sorry, Snail

Gr 1-4--The cover of this book features a cute girl holding an equally cute blue-shelled snail. The title page is illustrated with a crumpled piece of paper showing a charming illustration of the snail as if it were done by the girl. However, the pages that follow these adorable pictures are an unexpectedly phantasmagoric descent into surreal gastropod horror. It begins when Ari, the main character, insults a snail named Ms. Snail while she is in a bad mood. That night, Ms. Snail creeps into Ari's bedroom. Its eyestalks become as long as giant squid tentacles. And it talks, demanding an apology. A frightened Ari apologies. In an image fit for a Junji Ito graphic novel, Ms. Snail's eyestalks enter Ari's eye sockets and go into her body, as the snail "telescope[s] into Ari's soul." Determining Ari's apology is not sincere, Ms. Snail recruits hundreds of her snail friends to harass Ari until she apologizes again. This apology is deemed sincere, despite being the result of a coordinated harassment campaign. Ms. Snail also apologizes, and they become friends and live happily ever after. Strong artwork brings this bizarre story to life. Subisak's color palette is varied, and she is gifted at displaying subtle emotions, both human and snail. The story includes the fun vocabulary word "escargatoire," meaning a large quantity of snails. VERDICT While the message is earnest, the method is extreme in today's climate of online bullying and harassment; the sensibility has a very specific appeal and should be doled out with caution.--Chance Lee Joyner

This picture book about making things right kicks off when young Ari, who reads as East Asian, storms outside upset and vents her wrath on an unsuspecting snail. "Look at that slimy body. That silly shell," she whispers. "Those tentacle eyes! I JUST CAN'T LOOK AT YOU ANYMORE, SNAIL." Leaf-munching snails might seem like oblivious targets, but, in a droll, faux-horror spread, this gastropod--Ms. Snail--arrives at Ari's bedside that night, her tentacle eyes looming over the child's face: "I request an apology." Ari's lacks conviction, and after staring into Ari's soul, Ms. Snail slimes away with a parting shot: "Apology not accepted." When the dispute escalates the next morning and an escargatoire rolls in to defend their friend in calling for "Snaily Justice," Ari feels that she's the victim. But a moment of genuine remorse over her initial behavior leads to Subisak (This Book Is Not for You!) showing what authentic reconciliation looks like. Shots of electric orange and deep purple, bold ink lines, and big speech balloons help deliver the message that angry words cause real and lasting harm--even when the insulter hasn't intended it--and that half-hearted apologies and defensiveness compound the problem. Ages 3-6. Agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. (May)