The Snail and the Whale

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Interest age: 3 to 6
Reading age: 6+

Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2016

Picture books
Poetry and rhyme

About this book

This book by the award-winning Gruffalo partnership is about a tiny snail who longs to see the world, and the enormous grey-blue humpback whale who gives him a lift on his tail.

Together they set off on a fantastic journey, passing frozen icebergs and fiery volcanoes and meeting all sorts of sea animals on the way, until the tiny snail finds himself oppressed by the vastness of the world.

But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it is the tiny snail who saves the day.

Written in a catchy rhyming style with wonderfully detailed illustrations on every page, this is a simple and touching story about making a difference.

About the author

Julia Donaldson is one of today's most popular writers. Her bestselling titles include The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom. Although she is best-known for her picture books, Julia also writes longer novels, plays and songs. She lives in Glasgow and spends a lot of time on stage performing her brilliant sell-out singalong shows!

Julia Donaldson was the Children's Laureate 2011-13.

About the illustrator

Axel was born in Hamburg, Germany. At school he was good at art, but didn't think of a career in illustration until he won a cuddly purple cow in a drawing competition. He moved to England in 1982 to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art, and then set up home in London.

He was the illustrator for Julia Donaldson's first picture book, A Squash and a Squeeze - the start of a hugely successful partnership. Their bestselling modern classic, The Gruffalo, has sold millions of copies. His books have been translated into 42 languages.

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