This debut picture
book is about the world’s grumpiest slug and no wonder Stevie is feeling so
upset. Slugs get such a bad press; labelled as a pest, called disgusting, gross
or just plain EW!
Stevie is
sent to a slug self-esteem class where there are lots of fascinating facts about
slugs to discover, including their scientific name Gastropod meaning stomach
foot, how they evolved from snails, and shown examples of all different types
of slugs including sea-slugs.
After
hearing all this information Stevie says,
‘Mr Babosa says humans don’t like us
Because they think we look weird,
Our slime is yukky and we only eat
their favourite plants.’
Reading this
I can only hang my head and say… GUILTY AS CHARGED!
Slug Life is
the first book in a new series combining great picture book storytelling with lots
of information and facts that hopefully can change the way some creatures are
viewed.
I learned a
lot; that plants are only one part of a slug’s diet and the important role they
play as decomposers. Who knew that slugs can regrow bits of themselves and have
27, 000 teeth (I have been telling everyone I meet this fact)? Slug slime is
reframed as ‘liquid crystal’ which sounds magical.
Moesha’s
illustrations are colourful and lively and conjure up the subterranean slug
world. The text and the illustrations are perfectly pitched for a young reader
to enjoy both the characters and to learn valuable information.
I have two minor
niggles. There are two spellings of health centre/health center on one page. The
slug love-in protest and the bringing in of the humans broke the spell of
Stevie’s world for me and the speech bubble ‘AARGH IT’S A SLUGPOCALYPSE’ was a
tad confusing.
Once Stevie
has learned of the value of slugs the grumpiness goes away and Stevie has now a
plan to spread the word to the small humans that SLUGS ARE SUPER.
I found this
book in the Garden Museum in South London which is a great place to visit if
you are in the area. There are always lots of activities for children
ISBN
978-1-91539-509-2
Rocket Bird
Books an imprint of Harper Collins
www.rocketbirdbooks.co.uk
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