Elementary Secondary Higher Ed Common Reads

Elementary Education


Guides
Collections
News
(0)
Wish List (0)
Wish List
Download high-resolution image

Snails Are Just My Speed!

TOON Level 1

Part of Giggle and Learn

Author Kevin McCloskey
Hardcover
$13.99 US
Astra Publishing House | TOON Books
9.28"W x 6.32"H x 0.34"D  
On sale May 01, 2018 | 40 Pages | 9781943145270
Grades K-1
Reading Level: Lexile AD490L | Fountas & Pinnell M
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
See Additional Formats
What’s the scoop behind all the mucus?

Did you know snails build roads like engineers and go undercover in camouflage like top secret spies? Did you know they can be smaller than a seed or bigger than a grown-up’s hand? Cartoonist Kevin McCloskey is back with his trademark mixture of real-life science, lovely art, and infectious hilarity for the slimiest book in his acclaimed Giggle and Learn series, praised by the New York Times as “a winning combination of facts and gross-out fun.”
Kevin McCloskey is the author of the critically acclaimed TOON Books Giggle and Learn series and an illustration professor at Pennsylvania's Kutztown University. After writing this book, Kevin is practically a snail expert, but he can't tell us whether the snails served in restaurants are tasty – he's never eaten one. What's the closest he's come to trying snails? Kevin says, "Sometimes, when I cook artichokes, I put a clove of garlic in the leaves. Then when they're cooked, I forget I put the garlic in and I think there's a slug in my food."
Kevin McCloskey View titles by Kevin McCloskey
School Library Journal Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2018
Finalist for Pop Culture Classroom 2019 Excellence In Graphic Literature Award, Best in Children's Graphic Literature (Nonfiction)!
The BUILDING STEAM WITH DIA 2019 Booklist (ALSC), K-Grade 2
Association for Library Service to Children GRAPHIC NOVELS READING LIST (Grades K-2) 2019 
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

★ "With hip and fun graphics, just enough 'ick' factor, and plenty of facts, this title offers beginning readers a great deal of information about snails and slugs...What a delight!" —School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

"McCloskey’s series continues to deliver an offbeat blend of science, humor, and a dynamic interplay between words and pictures."—Publishers Weekly

"Savvy educators will appreciate the book's versatility: It would be the star of an intimate gross-book-themed storytime...or may be used as the inspiration for a pre-K lesson plan on anything from wildlife and nature to gardening to body fluids. Overall, a fun read and a smart selection for any elementary nature shelf."—Kirkus Reviews

"As slugs with shells, snails perhaps lack charm. One look at McCloskey’s affectionate portrayal quickly changes minds...This will be a particular joy for the science-minded, but between spotting the snails hidden among rocks and taking a cue from the drawing lesson in back, there’s plenty of fun here for casual readers, too."—Booklist

"Fascinating...facts are shared about how snails move (slowly); the variety of snail species, sizes, and habitats; and even snail courtship rituals."—Horn Book Magazine

"In this fourth installment of TOON Books’ early reader science series, Kevin McCloskey once again creates an engaging work of nonfiction that will have kids screaming, 'Gross!' and, like the series title says, 'Laugh and Learn."—School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids

"I never expected to be interested in snails (and their cousin slugs) but McCloskey makes any animal interesting. His books are light reads that inspire learning."—Comics Worth Reading

"There’s a quick drawing lesson at the end – great way to end a storytime or science group session! Kevin McCloskey is aces in my book!"—Mom Read It

"Kevin McCloskey introduces us to a whole load of fascinating snail facts that are sure to entertain curious readers, no matter how old they are."—Orbital Comics

"By the time you turn the last page of Snails are Just My Speed!, you'll be reminding yourself that this book is a beginning reader."—Books4YourKids

About

What’s the scoop behind all the mucus?

Did you know snails build roads like engineers and go undercover in camouflage like top secret spies? Did you know they can be smaller than a seed or bigger than a grown-up’s hand? Cartoonist Kevin McCloskey is back with his trademark mixture of real-life science, lovely art, and infectious hilarity for the slimiest book in his acclaimed Giggle and Learn series, praised by the New York Times as “a winning combination of facts and gross-out fun.”

Author

Kevin McCloskey is the author of the critically acclaimed TOON Books Giggle and Learn series and an illustration professor at Pennsylvania's Kutztown University. After writing this book, Kevin is practically a snail expert, but he can't tell us whether the snails served in restaurants are tasty – he's never eaten one. What's the closest he's come to trying snails? Kevin says, "Sometimes, when I cook artichokes, I put a clove of garlic in the leaves. Then when they're cooked, I forget I put the garlic in and I think there's a slug in my food."
Kevin McCloskey View titles by Kevin McCloskey

Praise

School Library Journal Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2018
Finalist for Pop Culture Classroom 2019 Excellence In Graphic Literature Award, Best in Children's Graphic Literature (Nonfiction)!
The BUILDING STEAM WITH DIA 2019 Booklist (ALSC), K-Grade 2
Association for Library Service to Children GRAPHIC NOVELS READING LIST (Grades K-2) 2019 
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

★ "With hip and fun graphics, just enough 'ick' factor, and plenty of facts, this title offers beginning readers a great deal of information about snails and slugs...What a delight!" —School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

"McCloskey’s series continues to deliver an offbeat blend of science, humor, and a dynamic interplay between words and pictures."—Publishers Weekly

"Savvy educators will appreciate the book's versatility: It would be the star of an intimate gross-book-themed storytime...or may be used as the inspiration for a pre-K lesson plan on anything from wildlife and nature to gardening to body fluids. Overall, a fun read and a smart selection for any elementary nature shelf."—Kirkus Reviews

"As slugs with shells, snails perhaps lack charm. One look at McCloskey’s affectionate portrayal quickly changes minds...This will be a particular joy for the science-minded, but between spotting the snails hidden among rocks and taking a cue from the drawing lesson in back, there’s plenty of fun here for casual readers, too."—Booklist

"Fascinating...facts are shared about how snails move (slowly); the variety of snail species, sizes, and habitats; and even snail courtship rituals."—Horn Book Magazine

"In this fourth installment of TOON Books’ early reader science series, Kevin McCloskey once again creates an engaging work of nonfiction that will have kids screaming, 'Gross!' and, like the series title says, 'Laugh and Learn."—School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids

"I never expected to be interested in snails (and their cousin slugs) but McCloskey makes any animal interesting. His books are light reads that inspire learning."—Comics Worth Reading

"There’s a quick drawing lesson at the end – great way to end a storytime or science group session! Kevin McCloskey is aces in my book!"—Mom Read It

"Kevin McCloskey introduces us to a whole load of fascinating snail facts that are sure to entertain curious readers, no matter how old they are."—Orbital Comics

"By the time you turn the last page of Snails are Just My Speed!, you'll be reminding yourself that this book is a beginning reader."—Books4YourKids

Additional formats

Other books in this series

Related Articles

General Education & Professional Learning

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

General Education & Professional Learning
Social Studies & History Math The Arts General Early Concepts Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series Science & Technology

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

Social Studies & History Math The Arts General Early Concepts Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series Science & Technology
DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request
General Publisher's Spotlight English Language Arts

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

General Publisher's Spotlight English Language Arts
education translanguaging collections affirming bilingual and multilingual learners
General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

Back to Top
0
    • 0
    Elementary Education
    Wish List (0)