Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Snail sees an enticing field of cabbages across a road and heads for it. He is too small to recognize the automobile that barrels over him for what it is--"Some things are too big and fast for snails to ponder"--but, luckily, the wheels miss him. When rain derails Snail, as well as some determined ants he meets on his journey, Snail invites them into his cozy, snug shell so they won't drown, and serves them tea. After this brief respite, Snail resumes his trek (the repeated refrain: "Nothing could stand in his way!"), but while avoiding a crow, he unknowingly makes a U-turn and ends up back where he started. Never fear: his new ant friends prove to be true blue--and they help to deliver Snail his hoped-for snack. Tabor uses scale to emphasize Snail's helplessness; viewers may gasp at the oncoming vehicles and Snail's vulnerability in the face of danger. Yet cheerful Snail never despairs. A glass-half-full tone pervades the story, and Tabor creates an endearing character in Snail, with his big eyes and determined spirit. A moment of larger vocabulary--"Evasive maneuvers!" Snail declares as he changes direction to avoid a crow--will have children putting context clues to work to learn new words. An appealing story about friendship and how little characters can overcome big obstacles. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Why did the snail cross the road? Cabbage. How? That's another story. While "scooting around" one day, Snail spots a field of scrumptious cabbage on the other side of a dangerous road. The self-assured gastropod approaches the obstacle with a can-do attitude: "Well, you won't stop me!" After traveling for some timeand generating a glistening trail of slimeSnail decides to take a break. Just then, a vehicle in the distance zooms closer. Snail narrowly avoids it. Further perils and delays arise, but the "cabbage bound" hero slimes his way out of them all. Despite all the stress, Snail keeps it kind: He invites a "troop of rowdy ants" inside his shell (and his vintage-decorated living room) to take shelter from the rain. But between the tea and other distractions, will Snail ever make it to his lunch? Though snail-centric, Tabor's story is far from snail's pace: Deft shifts between double- and single-page spreads and other visual cues heighten the drama of the fraught adventure. The cartoon illustrations digitally combine pencil, watercolor, and ink to create beautiful textures. Careful readers may see a visual mismatch between the more-detailed spreads and those set against a white background (e.g., how big is Snail's shell home anyway?). Still, Tabor (of 2019 Geisel-winning Fox the Tiger fame) shines; his clever reversal of expectations will replace any skepticism with a fit of giggles.A shell of a good time. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.