Serge the Snail Without A Shell

by Harriet Alida Lye & Rosa Rankin-Gee
illustrated by Andrea Blinick
Nimbus Publishing, 2023
ISBN 978-1-7747-1146-0
$14.95, 32 pp. ages 5 – 10
nimbus.ca

This charming, whimsical poem illustrates the journey of a slug who doesn’t feel like he belongs as he searches for a shell so that he can look like all the other snails. Luckily, after an arduous trip to the ocean and trying on numerous shells that just don’t feel right, he comes to the realization that it’s best to be just who you are, and learns to feel the joy of belonging that begins with accepting one’s self. With humorous illustrations filled with colourful detail, these pages provide a visual delight as we follow Serge on his journey to learn this important life lesson.

Curriculum Connections: This book will be valuable as a resource for social-emotional learning. It can be the impetus for discussions on acceptance of people with differences and also help students understand more about stereotyping. “Slugs” are often associated with negative attributes, and this book will help students understand how unfair these assumptions might be. Exploring rhyming words and words that express feelings will help primary grade students develop vocabulary skills.

Review by Betty Schultze.

This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Fall 2023 issue.