About the books

This children’s book aims to bring small-scale epic adventures to your living room or classroom. Kids will enjoy the lively images, engaging story and fun characters of Serena and her Papa. Parents and teachers will appreciate the underlying lessons around scientific inquiry, curiosity and asking questions. At the end of each book you will find teaching activities and discussion questions to foster deeper scientific learning, curiosity and wild natural adventures.

Stories are transformative teaching tools that can encourage children of all ages to consider the world from a unique perspective. Serena's story strives to be entertaining and educational.  It takes the perspective of snails, our gastropodtastic neighbors. Snails are slow, quiet and often overlooked, yet they possess amazing secrets worthy of investigating.

In these books, Serena learns many lessons — including how important it is to slow down and ask good questions before jumping to conclusions. This kind of curiosity is the foundation for scientific thinking. By encouraging learners to slow down, look closer and ask questions about their surroundings we can support scientific curiosity and critical thinking development. 

What is so special about snails?

Sourced from ​the Encyclopedia Britannica 
Fact #1 : Snails can be as small as one millimeter or over 2 feet long.
Fact #2: The spiral or whorl of a snails shell follows a logarithmic spiral discovered by French scientist René Descartes in 1638. This same mathematical  pattern can be found throughout nature. 
Fact #3: Gastropods  have inched over this earth for 500 million years.
Fact #4: Snails have one foot and one lung, 
Fact #5: Some snails can live up to 50 years.
Fact #6: Snails and Slugs are related but slugs have not ben on earth as long as snails. You can find slugs in moister climates where they are less likely to need a shell for protection agains the elements.
Fact #7: Land snails love to eat dead and decaying plant matter, their aquatic cousins often prefer to eat both plant and animals.
Fact #8: Land Snails glide along on a special layer of mucus.
Fact #9: Banana Slugs produce one type of mucus that will numb skin that comes in contact with it. 
Fact #10: Of the four tentacles located on a snails 'head' two are 'eyes' which detect mostly light and smell sensors.

​And there is so much more! What is YOUR favorite thing about snails? 

    Reviews for The Curious Little Snail

    "Anyone who is anybody should read this book, it's thoughtful, adventurous and perfect for young readers."
    ​Ida Bralower age 8.
     
    "If you like adventures, large or small, then you would love this book!"
    Viviana Pearl Castle-Messenger age 8
     
    "I think my dog should read this book, because he asks a lot of questions."
    Ruby Bryson- Beane age 8

    "The Curious Little Snail is an educator’s delight! Young reflects children’s capacity for questioning, encouraging adults and children alike to slow down and take a closer look at our surroundings. As a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher, I highly recommend this book."  
    Lindsay Lang M. Ed. Elementary School Teacher

    “A small snail with a big message, Serena is the perfect heroine to encourage kids to use scientific reasoning to think about the world around them. Perfect for environmental educators, classroom teachers, and anyone with an adventurous kid in their lives.”
    Katherine Rose Taulbee M. Ed. 1st Grade Teacher and Environmental Educator

    "The Curious Little Snail, should not be kept next to the bed, but rather be brought outdoors as preparation for outdoor adventures."
    Dr. John Haskin Senior Vice President for Education, IslandWood