Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator
Campbell, Sarah C. Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator.
Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2008.
32 pp. $16.95 (hardback)
Written and illustrated by Mississippians (author Sarah C. Campbell and her husband Richard), Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator is primarily a non-fiction picture book. The large, simple text describes (with a bit of suspense) how one snail captures and eats another snail. The pages are dominated by photographs, most of which show the snail in larger-than-life scale on its quest for food. These are nicely done, uncomplicated illustrations, with enough detail to satisfy curiosity and spark conversation.
The last three pages are quite different, and seem geared to a more mature reader than the rest of the book. Two pages of “wolfsnail facts” contain a wealth of information in the style of a nature field guide. The last page is a glossary with words such as “predator,” “cannibal,” “radula,” and “slime.” These last few pages will be above the reading level of many children, but are a nice addition for parents fielding questions or for young readers stretching their reading skills. (Parents, however, will need to decide if they are ready for their children to be introduced to words like “hermaphrodite.”)
Wolfsnail is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book. The book is a great introduction to predators in the life cycle, and it will likely encourage children to explore their environment. The publisher categorizes it as appropriate for ages 4-9. It is recommended for libraries serving children of that age group.
Diane DeCesare Ross
Curator, Manuscripts and Archives
University of Southern Mississippi
Entry Filed under: Book Reviews
Posted on: August 10th, 2010
