How to Party Like a Snail

Snail is an atypical “party animal” who enjoys the quiet aspects of celebrations, such as “using his indoor voice to make new friends” or “whispering meaningful wishes to cakes.” But when the party gets too noisy, Snail retreats inside his shell where he can still participate in his own way. When friends’ lack of understanding results in fewer party invitations, Snail decides to make his own celebration where he “makes a pot of warm milk and lip-syncs to all his favorite lullabies.” His tree stump friend (appropriately named “Stump”) notices the fun Snail is having and joins the quiet party.

Although How to Party Like a Snail is written in a jovial and lighthearted manner, it introduces the reader to an important initiative – that is, increasing understanding and compassion toward introverts and sensory-sensitive individuals. Offering such an alternative perspective in a fun way will help to normalize the experiences of a substantial number of children. The hope and cheerfulness inherent in the text are complemented by the expressive, touching, and (many times) hilarious illustrations. Although speech bubbles may sometimes interrupt the reading pace, it is still a worthy candidate for storytime. Highly recommended for all children’s collections.